Across the Manzanares River stands the Puente de la Princesa. Its elegant form belies a complex history. Three bridges have occupied this very spot. The first a simple ford known as the Vado de Santa Catalina. People crossed the river here for centuries.
Imagine the scene in 1901. Work begins on the first Puente de la Princesa a magnificent iron structure. Designed by Vicente Machimbarrena. It boasted a single grand arch spanning 50 meters. Quite a feat of engineering for its time. Eight years later King Alfonso XIII himself inaugurated the bridge. It linked the Paseo de las Delicias to the Cadiz road. A symbol of progress and royal patronage.
But progress marches on. By 1929 the iron bridge was deemed insufficient. The ever-growing city of Madrid needed more. Down came the iron giant. In its place arose a sturdy concrete bridge designed by Alberto Laffón y Soto. Three parabolic arches replaced the single grand one. The new design was wider 18 meters accommodating the increasing traffic.
Then came Madrid Río a massive urban renewal project. This led to the demolition of the second Puente de la Princesa in 2006. The concrete bridge was sacrificed for a more modern design. Today’s Puente de la Princesa is a simple concrete platform. A far cry from its predecessors yet it stands as a testament to the city’s evolution. A silent witness to Madrid’s ever-changing landscape. It connects Arganzuela and Usera districts. A vital artery in the modern city. The Puente de la Princesa continues to connect. It continues to serve. But it whispers of bridges past. Each incarnation reflecting the era in which it stood. A fascinating history hidden in plain sight.