The Bridge of Ajuda ( pt, Ponte de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, es, Puente de Nuestra Señora de Ayuda) is a dilapidated bridge that crosses the

Guadiana River The Guadiana River (, also , , ), or Odiana, is an international river defining a long stretch of the Portugal-Spain border, separating Extremadura and Andalusia (Spain) from Alentejo and Algarve (Portugal). The river's basin extends from the e ...

between

Elvas Elvas () is a Portuguese municipality, former episcopal city and frontier fortress of easternmost central Portugal, located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo. It is situated about east of Lisbon, and about west of the Spanish fortres ...

and

Olivenza Olivenza () or Olivença () is a town in southwestern Spain, near the Portuguese border, on a historically disputed section of the Portugal–Spain border. Its territory is administered by Spain as a municipality belonging to the province of Bad ...

History

The bridge was constructed between 1520 and 1521, during the reign of King D.

Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portuga ...

from the left bank of the

Guadiana The Guadiana River (, also , , ), or Odiana, is an international river defining a long stretch of the Portugal-Spain border, separating Extremadura and Andalusia (Spain) from Alentejo and Algarve (Portugal). The river's basin extends from the ...

, in the parish of Senhora da Ajuda, along a roadway segment between Elvas and Olivença (and attributed to the "Arruda brothers"). During 1597, many of the archways were damaged or destroyed during flooding. Between 1640 and 1642, Matias de Albuquerque, Governor of the Alentejo, began the refortification of Olivença with the construction of a third or fourth lines of walls. During this period it is possible that the bridge was rebuilt, since it was in a state of ruin at the time of the Governor's visit to Elvas and Olivença. However, it was partially destroyed by Spanish forces in 1657. It was then rebuilt in the same century. In 1705, redoubts were constructed to reinforce the bridge over the Guadiana, designed by Manuel da Maia. In 1709 the bridge was partially demolished by artillery during the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...

. The Spanish army, under the command of D.

Manuel Godoy Manuel Godoy y Álvarez de Faria, Prince of the Peace, 1st Duke of Alcudia, 1st Duke of Sueca, 1st Baron of Mascalbó (12 May 17674 October 1851) was First Secretary of State of Spain from 1792 to 1797 and from 1801 to 1808. He received many t ...

annexed the town of Olivença in 1801. In 1903, in

Vila Viçosa Vila Viçosa () is a town and a municipality in the District of Évora, Alentejo in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 8,319, in an area of 194.86 km². The municipal holiday is August 16. Parishes Administratively, the municipality is ...

, King D. Carlos proposed the reconstruction of the bridge. On 24 January 1967 the Portuguese government declared the bridge a ''Imóvel de Interesse Público'' (''Property of Public Interest''). This was complimented, on 13 March 2009, when the Spanish government declared the bridge as a ''

Bien de Interés Cultural A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the heritage register in Spain. The term is also used in Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. The term literally means a "good of cultural interest" (" goods" in the economic sense) and incl ...

'' (''Possession of Cultural Interest'').

Architecture

The bridge is located in a rural environment, isolated and encircled by wild vegetation, approximately from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Ajuda, along a segment of abandoned road between Elvas and Olivenza. Although in ruin, the bridge was long and wide, with a platform that was at most above the river. Eight arches remain along the right margin and 5 along the left margin, consisting of inconsistent rounded arches supported by talhamares. The archivolts, with two rows of staves, are supported by quadrangular pillars reinforced by high talhamares. Along the main platform, an old tower was erected along the sixth arch of the right bank, which was constructed over large boulders, now visible along the margin.

References

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * {{Authority control Bridges in Portugal Bridges in Spain Bridges over the Guadiana River Portugal–Spain border crossings Listed bridges in Portugal

History

Architecture

See also

References

Sources