Puente Purísima, Road bridge and historical monument in Recoleta, Chile
Puente Purísima is a road bridge that crosses the Mapocho River and connects Recoleta to central Santiago. It features a metal and concrete structure that continues to support daily vehicle traffic between the two areas.
The two metal road bridges date from 1890, when Chilean firm Lever, Murphy & Co. won the first three Mapocho bridges in late 1888 as part of the river canalisation and Parque Forestal project. The downstream span is actually the old Puente Loreto, moved here in 1980 when a concrete bridge replaced it. The pair was declared a national historic monument in 1997 by decree 824.
The bridge serves as a daily crossing point that links the Recoleta neighborhood to downtown, playing a practical role in how residents move through the city. It stands as a familiar landmark in the urban landscape that people pass through in their everyday journeys.
The bridge is straightforward to access and directly connected to the street system that channels traffic in both directions. You can cross it by car or on foot when moving between the districts.
Below the bridge runs a bicycle path along the river that is part of the Mapocho 42K Cyclepark project. This dedicated route offers cyclists a safe alternative to road traffic.
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