The famous medieval Torquemada bridgein the province of Palenciastands as one of the largest civil works of its time and an architectural landmark in the community of Castilla y León. This formidable structure, which connects the town of Torquemada with the left bank of the Pisuerga River, is part of the living history of the town, being a silent witness of the great events that this Pisuerga municipality has gone through. At 352 meters long, it is, without a doubt, one of the longest bridges in the entire Castile and León.
The appearance of this colossus is due to its twenty-five eyes or bowsa figure that gives it the characteristic image of the great Castilian bridges. Although some sources suggest a Roman originthe truth is that, after the multiple vicissitudes it has endured over time, little or nothing remains of its original trace. This bridge, on the Camino Real de Burgos and very close to those of Cordovilla la Real, Quintana del Puente and Palenzuela, forms a pontoon complex of great interest for those who feel attracted by this type of large civil works from historical times.
wooden bridges
The construction of the best original bridge construction took place between 1583 and 1586. master stonemasons responsible for this crucial stage were Diego Gómez de Sisniega and his son García de Sisniega. For this work, the architect Juan de Nates, known for being the author of the main bridge in Valladolid, came as guarantor. It is important to note that, at the end of the 16th century, the magnificent bridge collapsed and was rebuilt in that same period (1583-1586). There are also experts in the field who claim that, prior to the construction of the 16th century, there were already one or two bridges that, for the most part, would be made of wood. The historical relevance of the Torquemada Pass is confirmed by the record that, in 1506, the funeral procession that accompanied the mortal remains of the recently deceased king Philip I “The Beautiful” crossed here. Likewise, the queen Juana I She stayed in houses near the door that led to the bridge, shortly after giving birth to Infanta Catalina in the same town. Carlos V He also crossed the bridge during his visits to Torquemadaincluding his last trip to Yuste for his retirement
Much of what is admired today about the imposing bridge are rehabilitation and improvement works carried out during the 17th and 18th centuries. These interventions included enlargement of his primitive twenty-two eyes to twenty-five. This expansion to twenty-five arches was specifically carried out in 1746 by Antonio de los Cuetos. However, Cuetos’ work must not have been optimal, because in 1778, the Cantabrian and stonemason master Juan Antonio de Vierna Camino had to redo what he had executed, under the direction of Antonio del Otero and Antonio del Carredano, and with a series of additions by commissioner Marcos de Vierna.
Apart from its road importance, the bridge was the scene of one of the most epic moments in local history during the napoleonic invasion. On the night of June 6, 1808, the residents of Torquemada They faced the French general Lasalle, who was trying to reach Valladolid at the head of four battalions of infantry and cavalry. The inhabitants blocked the bridge with barricades and made themselves strong in the church of Santa Eulalia to oppose the invading army. Despite the good disposition of the Torquemadinos, the powerful French army managed to cross the bridge. The retaliation carried out by the invaders was excessive: they killed everyone they found, looted and burned the town, including several buildings such as the church.
The war continued to affect the structure; six years later, in 1814, when the French armies were retreating defeated from Spain, they crossed the Torquemada bridge again and then They deliberately damaged him to avoid being persecuted and harassed by the guerrillas. The imposing construction acquired great importance during the 15th century as an obligatory passage on the route that connected Burgos with Palencia and Valladolid. Today, its surroundings have been developed for public enjoyment: in its surroundings there is a recreational area (Elisabeth Park)an ideal place to enjoy the pleasant natural environments generated by the mill hornwort and the riverside vegetation.
Furthermore, from its parapets there are spectacular views of the river, the nearby mill (a good example of five stones, rare in small towns of the 17th century) and the church of Santa Eulalia. Despite having been destroyed and rebuilt several times throughout its history, this bridge continues to be an essential civil work of the town. The data reflects its constant importance, from the collection of portage in the mid-19th century to its role as a key piece of cultural heritage in the tourist circuit. The bridge of Torquemada It remains standing, communicating not only the two banks of the river, but also the past and present of this historic Castilian town..
