Nuevos datos sobre la construcción del puente de Almaraz (Cáceres)

Abstract

The Almaraz bridge (Cáceres) is one of the most interesting of the XVIth century in Spain. Nevertheless, its constructive history was scarcely known. Through several lawsuits located in the Archives of Simancas and the Chancillería of Valladolid, it has been possible to reconstruct its biography, from the end of the XVth century until the definitive campaign retaken in the fourth decade of the XVIth century, by initiative of the Concejo de la Mesta and under the direction of Juan de Álava and his technical assintant Martín de la Ordieta. At first, the bridge was thought to have three arches and its layout was not straight. In 1539, Diego de Vergara took control of the piecework and fundamental changes took place, mainly the reduction of the number of arches to two. However, in 1542 when the informations ended, they had not managed to finish the first of the two arches, fundamentally because of economic problems derived from the corruption that affected the management at all levels.