Expertlatin
- Who built the Alcántara Bridge?
- Why was the Alcántara Bridge built?
- When was the Alcántara Bridge built?
Who built the Alcántara Bridge?
The architect of this great masterpiece was a man called Caius Julius Lacer. The name of the bridge comes from the Arabic “El Kantara”, meaning “bridge”. Its dimensions make it unique among Roman bridges, and it boasts the largest arch span of the peninsular Roman bridges, with an arch of almost 29 m.
Why was the Alcántara Bridge built?
The two middle piers are about 190 feet high, and the two middle arches have a span of 150 feet. The usual depth of the water is 37 feet, but in time of flood it sometimes rises in the narrow gorge to a height of 180 feet. The bridge was built to help armies get i and out of Alcantara, and just for regular travel.
When was the Alcántara Bridge built?
The Roman bridge in Alcántara was built between the years AD 104 and 106, and in 1924 was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category. It stands out in particular for its grandness and strength that it still maintains today, nearly intact despite being almost 2,000 years old.
