Puente de los Peligros
Encyclopedia
Segura
Segura is a medium-sized river in southeastern Spain.It starts at Santiago Pontones , passes Calasparra, Cieza, Murcia, Beniaján, Orihuela, Rojales and ends in the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura in the province of Alicante...
in the city of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
(Region of Murcia
Region of Murcia
The Region of Murcia is an autonomous community of Spain located in the southeast of the country, between Andalusia and Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast....
, Spain).
As this is the oldest bridge of the city, it is known as old bridge as opposed to the Puente Nuevo
Puente Nuevo (Murcia)
El Puento Nuevo or Puente de Hierro is a parabolic metallic bridge spanning the Segura River, completed in 1903 and located in the city of Murcia...
(Spanish for new bridge) built in 1903.
The popular name of Puente de los Peligros is due to the presence on the south side of the bridge of a niche that keeps a wooden statue of Our Lady of the Hazards, work of Francisco Sánchez Araciel.
History
On 26 September 1701, an extreme flood event destroyed the 16th century bridge that used to link the city centre with the right bank of the river and the starting point of the royal road to CartagenaCartagena, Spain
Cartagena is a Spanish city and a major naval station located in the Region of Murcia, by the Mediterranean coast, south-eastern Spain. As of January 2011, it has a population of 218,210 inhabitants being the Region’s second largest municipality and the country’s 6th non-Province capital...
.
In 1717, after many delays and after Luis Salas y Sandoval was appointed Mayor of the city, the order to start the works was eventually given. In the same year Toribio Martínez de la Vega presented a description of the materials to be used, and a board of works to deal with the construction was commissioned.
In late April of 1717, the wood which was to be used for the cofferdam
Cofferdam
A cofferdam is a temporary enclosure built within, or in pairs across, a body of water and constructed to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment for the major work to proceed...
and the scaffolding
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is a temporary structure used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes or tubes, although it can be from other materials...
of the bridge began to be transported from the upper basin of the Segura, taking approximately six months to reach the city.
On 10 September 1718 the first stone of the bridge was laid, but soon after the works had to be stopped at the request of Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
to the municipality of Murcia of 14,000 doubloon
Doubloon
The doubloon , was a two-escudo or 32-reales gold coin, weighing 6.77 grams . Doubloons were minted in Spain, Mexico, Peru, and Nueva Granada...
s for the construction of the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
Toribio Martínez de la Vega was at the forefront of the works for seven years building up the central pillar and the abutments. After some small progresses during the time in which Jerónimo Gómez de la Haya supervised the works, Jaime Bort was commissioned to direct the works. Bort continued to work according to the plans made by Martinez la Vega but he further widened the entrances to the bridge, especially on the right bank, Martinez de la Vega had done the same on the left, knocking down a part of the bridge gate of the city walls.
The construction, stalled again, resumed in 1739 and this time works would not stop until their completion in 1742. On September 12, 1742 a wooden statue of Our Lady of the hazards, from which the bridge is named after, was placed on the bridge. The neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
niche would be built on the right bank later on. Statues of Saint Michael
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
and Saint Raphael
Raphael (archangel)
Raphael is an archangel of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, who in the Judeo-Christian tradition performs all manners of healing....
, works of Joaquín Laguna, were also placed on the bridge starling
Starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...
s.
In 1850, the bridge was widened to make room for two sidewalks through a metal structure attached to the stalls. This meant the removal of the decorative elements placed on the starlings. This first extension was insufficient and in 1867 the bridge was further widened with a new metal structure, setting the layout of the bridge as it can be seen today.
The project was a success as it became the first permanent bridge in the history of Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
that spanning the Segura
Segura
Segura is a medium-sized river in southeastern Spain.It starts at Santiago Pontones , passes Calasparra, Cieza, Murcia, Beniaján, Orihuela, Rojales and ends in the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura in the province of Alicante...
could endure seamlessly the periodical river flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s, including the great flood of Santa Teresa of 1879.
External Links (in Spanish)
- El Carmen en la página web del Ayuntamiento de Murcia.
- Historia del Barrio del Carmen en Región de Murcia Digital portal de información de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia.