Palmas Bridge

Palmas Bridge tells a story both of connecting the banks and of the Guadiana’s force. The bridge completed in 1596 later suffered floods that required repairs and reconstruction; its present appearance retains traces of those interventions. Before the earliest bridges, people crossed by boat or used fords when conditions allowed. The structure changed movement, trade and connections with roads beyond the city. Examine arches, piers and cutwaters without expecting a uniformity that history did not preserve. Looking towards Palmas Gate reveals bridge and gateway as parts of one strategic entrance. Crossing the entire bridge and returning adds distance to the walk. You can also interpret the ensemble from the city end, leaving the opposite bank for another time block.