Alcántara Bridge

The Alcántara Bridge is a Roman bridge at Alcántara, in Extremadura [1]. The stone arch bridge was built over the Tagus River between 104 and 106 AD by an order of the Roman emperor Trajan in 98 [1]. The Moors destroyed one of the smallest arches in 1214 although this was rebuilt centuries later, in 1543, with stone taken from the original quarries [1]. The second arch on the northwest side was then later destroyed in 1760 by the Spanish to stop the Portuguese advancing and was repaired in 1762 by Charles III, only to be blown up again in 1809 by Wellington's forces attempting to stop the French [1]. Temporary repairs were made in 1819, but much of the bridge was destroyed yet again in 1836 by the Carlists [1]. The bridge was rebuilt in 1860 using mortared masonry [1]. The Alcántara Bridge was built at the expense of 12 local municipalities in Lusitania [1]. The names were added on an inscription on the archway over the central pier [1].