Stone bridge of Medieval origin in Soria
The Puente de piedra de origen Mediaval is a stone bridge that connects both sides of the Duero River, at the height of the old town of Soria. It is one of the oldest and most characteristic bridges in Spain, with over 800 years of history. Its construction began in the 12th century, during the reign of Alfonso VIII, and lasted until the 14th century, when it was completed. The bridge has a total of 11 arches, of which 9 are original, and 2 were added later. The bridge is 140 meters long and 6 meters wide, and is intended for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
The bridge is a witness to many events and legends associated with the city of Soria. Here, battles and sieges took place during wars with Muslims, French, and Carlists. Here, processions and religious ceremonies also passed, such as the fiesta San Saturio, the patron saint of the city, or the fiesta San Juan, the most important folk festival. Here, scenes from the life and work of famous writers, such as Antonio Machado, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, and Gerardo Diego, who immortalized the bridge in their poems and stories, also took place.
One of the most famous legends associated with the bridge is that of the “Salto del Caballo”, or Horse Jump. It tells that in 1521, during the war of the comuneros, the imperial troops of Charles V besieged the city of Soria, which defended itself bravely. Then, one of the defenders, Diego Laínez, decided to perform a daring feat to raise the morale of his comrades. He got on a horse and jumped from the bridge into the river, overcoming more than 20 meters in height.
Then, he came out of the water and returned to the city, where he was greeted with cheers. His act was so admired that he was recognized as a hero and received the nickname “Salto del Caballo”. On the bridge, there is a plaque commemorating this fact, as well as a sculpture depicting a jumping horse, the work of sculptor Jesús Trapero from 2005.
The bridge is open to visitors all year round, and admission is free. It is certainly one of the places worth visiting to admire the beautiful view of the river and the city.
