Madrid by bike

Today we are going to refer to Toledo Bridge, For our taste one of the most beautiful bridges in Madrid. It is in the Churrigueresque baroque style and was built between 1718 and 1732 by the architect Pedro de Ribera crossing the Manzanares River. Pedro de Ribera, whom we can undoubtedly describe as a traditional architect. Born in Madrid, he contributed largely to creating the image of a new Madrid. He participated in the urban improvements of Madrid in the 18th century with great works. Some very suggestive such as the Hermitage of the Virgen de Puerto or El Cuartel de Conde Duque. By the way, he was born and lived in Lavapiés.

But theirs was not the first bridge in that location. Previously there were other bridges located in the same place. Between 1649 and 1660 it was built, by order of Philip IV which seems to have been the first, Juan Gómez de Mora, the Toledana Bridge, which linked Madrid with the Toledo road. A flood of the Manzanares destroyed it.

In 1680 a new bridge was built and that stream, apprentice of our river, as Quevedo said, destroyed it again, shortly after its inauguration. It seems that The architects were banished and forced to pay for the reconstruction.

In 1682, Jose del Olmo designs new traces, perfected by Jose del Arroyo, similar to those of the Segovia bridge (with 11 eyes). In 1684 Theodore Ardemans He took charge of the work, continuing the work intermittently until his death. 
In 1715 the Marquis of Vadillo, mayor of the town, commissioned new plans to Pedro de Ribera, those of the current bridge, with 9 eyes (semicircular arches) separated by drums similar to fortress towers topped by small balconies and a width of 9,45 m on the deck and 35,50 in the access areas.

The works began in 1719 and ended in 1732. In the magnificent central baroque temples you can see the sculptures of Saint Mary of the Head y San isidro labrador, from 1735, the Patrons of Madrid, one facing the other, work of the sculptor Juan Ron, and the coats of arms of Spain and Madrid.

In 1972, works were undertaken on the M-30 to divert traffic and convert the Toledo Bridge into a pedestrian bridge, and in 2007 with the burying of the M-30, and the subsequent construction of the Madrid River It offers it to us in its current state.

Joining Marques de Vadillo and the Glorieta de Pirámides, with good views of the Perrault Bridge on one side and the Vicente Calderón on the other, a perfect vantage point to see the Mazanares and enjoy the movement of the people of Madrid across this historic bridge.

A greeting.