Puente de Piedra, Zamora

The Stone Bridge of Zamora is one of the five bridges that cross the Duero River as it passes through the capital of the homonymous province. For centuries it was the only passage of the river in the city, communicating the neighborhoods of the suburbs with the historic center of the city. It is currently a link between Avenida de Vigo and Plaza de Belén. Due to its location on the Vía de la Plata, it was an important crossing point of the Duero River for people, goods and transhumant herds. Its construction was completed at the beginning of the 13th century, and subsequently renovated on several occasions, it is now one of the most representative symbols of the city. In interventions carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, many ornamental elements of the bridge were radically modified, the two existing towers on both sides of the entrance of the bridge were eliminated, in order to make it more accessible to the growing road traffic. A large part of the ornaments and decorations of the bridge disappeared in this profound reform. All that remains of the original stone material are the vaults of the major arches and the piers, although these were thoroughly retouched. The bridge is part of the Jacobean Silver Route, historically part of the Roman road called Iter ab Emerita Asturicam of the Itinerary of Antony. During later centuries it was an important crossing point of the Duero River for people, goods and transhumant herds. The opening in 2013 of the so-called bridge of the Poets made it become a pedestrian bridge.