Puerta del Puente facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puerta del Puente |
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| General information | |
| Location | Córdoba, Spain |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Part of | Historic centre of Córdoba |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) |
| Inscription | 1984 (8th Session) |
| Extensions | 1994 |
| Type: | Non-movable |
| Criteria: | Monument |
| Designated: | 3 June 1931 |
| Part of: | Puente sobre El Guadalquivir, su Puerta y la Calahorra |
| Reference #: | RI-51-0000524 |
The Puerta del Puente (which means "Gate of the Bridge" in Spanish) is a beautiful old gate in Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. It was built in the 1500s to celebrate a visit from King Philip II.
This gate stands where much older Roman gates once were. It connects the city to the famous Roman bridge and an ancient Roman road called the Via Augusta.
Since 1931, the Puerta del Puente, along with the Roman bridge and the Calahorra tower, has been a protected monument. It is also part of the historic center of Cordoba, which became a World Heritage Site in 1984.
Contents
History of the Bridge Gate
In the 1500s, the old city gate was in bad shape. City leaders decided it was time for a new, grander entrance. On February 18, 1572, the mayor, Alonso Gonzalez de Arteaga, ordered the building of the new Bridge Gate.
Why a New Gate Was Needed
The Bridge Gate was one of the most important entrances to Córdoba. Many people and supplies passed through it every day. City officials wanted to make the gate bigger and more artistic. This was part of a plan to make the city look better.
Building Challenges and Costs
Construction of the Bridge Gate began with Francisco de Montalbán. A few months later, in 1571, Hernán Ruiz III took over the project. The design of the gate became more complicated than expected. This caused the cost to go up a lot. The first budget was 1,400 ducats (an old type of money), but it ended up costing 3,100 ducats!
Work on the gate stopped for about four years until 1576. Hernán Ruiz then started working on it again. The city council of Cordoba might have run out of money, so the project remained unfinished for a while.
Changes Over Time
In 1912, during the time of King Alfonso XIII, the walls around the Puerta del Puente were removed. In 1928, the gate was rebuilt to look like a memorial. Its inner side was made to match its outer side. In the late 1950s, the ground around the gate was lowered. This brought it back to its original historical level.
Recent Restorations
In the early 2000s, the Puerta del Puente had its first major restoration. During this work, archaeologists also did excavations. More restoration work continued in 2005 to keep the gate in good condition.
See also
In Spanish: Puerta del Puente (Córdoba) para niños
