Crosses Nervion River Maintained by Bilbao City Hall Opened 1937 Location Bilbao Body of water Nervión | Locale Bilbao Design Arch bridge Province Biscay Bridge type Arch bridge Construction end 1877 | |
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Carries Motor vehicles
Pedestrians and bicycles Official name Spanish: Puente de San Antón
Basque: San Antongo zubia Similar Church of Saint Anthony t, Iglesia de San Nicolás, Arenal Bridge, Nervión, Basilica of Begoña | ||
The San Antón Bridge (Spanish: Puente de San Antón, Basque: San Antongo zubia) is an arch bridge in Bilbao, Spain. It spans the Estuary of Bilbao, linking the neighborhoods of Bilbao La Vieja and Casco Viejo. It is the oldest bridge in the city, with the original bridge being opened before 1318. At the time of its opening, and during centuries, it was the only bridge that crossed the river. It is located next to the Church of San Antón.
Map of San Antongo Zubia, Bilbo, Bizkaia, Spain
The San Antón Bridge is one of Bilbao's emblems and it is depicted on the city's coat of arms. Its origin is medieval. This bridge has a big historical importance, as the merchants were forced to use the bridge to carry their products from Biscay to Castile as it was the only bridge that crossed the river.
Several floods have pulled down the bridge several times; to solve the problem the city hall decided to build a completely new one by the end of the 19th century. The new bridge was finished in 1880; the opening was delayed after it suffered damage on the Carlist Wars. It had to be reconstructed once more in 1937 after it was demolished on the Spanish Civil War. The 1937 reconstruction was the last one and the current bridge is from that time.