Photo: Juanje 2712 · CC BY-SA 3.0 es · editedPuente Romano
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Falk2 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · edited
Why go
- Its location determined where Mérida was established.
- Carried the Vía de la Plata and routes to Olissipo, Corduba, Toletum and Caesaraugusta.
Don't miss
- Oldest Roman sectionThe first of the bridge’s three sections has ten arches and retains the most original fabric. Look for rough-faced ashlar stone and rounded arches.From the city to the Humilladero descent
- Central sectionFive wider arches combine Roman foundations with early 17th-century architecture.Middle section
- Roman concrete platformIt originally extended 150 metres upstream to protect the crossing. A surviving part stands near the far end of the third section.Near the far end of the third section
Know before you go
- The bridge is pedestrian-only.
Tips for your visit
- A 17th-century descent connects the bridge to the island.
Interesting facts6
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755 metres
The bridge measured about 755 metres across 62 arches in Roman times.
Puente Romano (Mérida) - Wikipedia -
Its piers are rounded upstream and square downstream to resist the river current.
Puente Romano, Mérida - Wikipedia -
12 metres
The bridge rises 12 metres above the river’s average water level.
Puente romano de Mérida - Wikipedia -
A former entrance gate appears on Roman coins minted in the colony.
Puente romano de Mérida - Wikipedia -
Repeated rebuilding and gradual riverbed sinking have left the bridge’s profile slightly twisted.
Pont romain de Mérida - Wikipedia -
1912
The bridge was declared a National Monument in 1912.
Puente romano de Mérida - Wikipedia
History
The crossing occupies a shallow stretch of the Guadiana, where the channel divides around a natural island. Diorite formations provided a solid foundation. A commemorative shrine and the Chapel of San Antonio were also added that century; the chapel was lost in the 1860 flood.
- Around the turn of the eraBuilt around the turn of the era, the crossing originally comprised two groups of arches joined by a wooden structure.
- 483Repairs to the central section are recorded during the Visigothic period.
- 686Sala, a Visigoth, restored the bridge.
- 9th centuryMuhammad I of Córdoba destroyed one pier while suppressing a revolt.
- 1603–1611A flood damaged the bridge in 1603. The central section was rebuilt, joining the two original groups of arches into one crossing, and completed in 1611.
Show all
- 1610Philip II restored the bridge.
- 1812Seventeen arches were destroyed as a defensive measure during the Battle of Badajoz.
- 1823–1878Flood damage led to repairs in 1823 and 1878, following another flood in 1860.
How to get there
- On footThe Alcazaba stands beside the city end of the bridge.
Sources: Puente Romano, Mérida - Wikipedia · Mérida (Spain) - Wikivoyage (see) · Puente Romano (Mérida) - Wikipedia · Puente romano de Mérida - Wikipedia · Pont romain de Mérida - Wikipedia · checked 26 Sep 2026
- Website
- turismomerida.org/
- Phone
- +34 924 33 07 22
Questions and answers
How long is Puente Romano?
The bridge itself is 721 metres long. Including its approaches, it measures 792 metres.
How many arches does Puente Romano have?
The bridge has 60 arches. Three arches were uncovered during riverbank restoration in the late 1990s.
What connects Puente Romano to the island?
A descent built in the 17th century connects the bridge to the island.
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