Puente Vicente Huidobro, Metal truss bridge in Recoleta, Chile.
Puente Vicente Huidobro is a metal truss bridge spanning the Mapocho River and connecting Santiago and Recoleta districts near Parque Forestal. The structure accommodates around 200 people and features glass walls that allow visitors to see the water and surroundings while crossing.
The bridge was originally built by Schneider and Co. Creusot Constructors using curved lattice beams imported from France and relocated to its current location in 1984. It gained National Historic Monument status in 1997 and was transformed into Teatro del Puente in 1998 to serve as a performance venue above the river.
The bridge is named after Vicente Huidobro, a Chilean poet who represented the country's literary avant-garde movement. Today it serves as a cultural gathering place where people encounter theater, music, and art within an industrial structure that frames the river views.
You can access the bridge on foot from either side of the river, with good views as you move across. Throughout the year, performances, readings, and exhibitions happen regularly, so check what is scheduled when you visit.
It operates as the only theater structure built directly over a river, with its curved French metal beams remaining visible as a reminder of European engineering adapted for a South American city. This unusual placement allows performances to take place while the river flows underneath.
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