Puente de Sant Jordi (San Jorge Bridge)

Built between 1925 and 1931, this reinforced concrete bridge crosses over the deep valley of the River Riquer in Alcoi, Spain. It is a magnificent example of the Art Deco style, and possibly the country’s largest structure in that style. Known as the Puente de San Jorge in Spanish or the Pont de Sant Jordi in Valencian, the bridge is a symbol of the city, and a remarkable survivor of the heavy bombing raids that Alcoi suffered in 1938 during the Spanish Civil War. 

The structure was designed by the architect Victor Eusa, and construction was led by the structural engineers Carmelo Monzón Repares and Vicente Redón. The scale and ambition of the are matched by the attention to detail in the decoration. Seeing the bridge illuminated at night, one feels like they have been  transported back to the 1920s.

Measuring 245 meters (803 feet) long and 45 meters (150 feet) high, the San Jorge Bridge is supported by ashlar foundation columns and three ellipsoid arches. Its construction opened up a large area of land for further development.

The San Jorge Bridge is one of more than 20 bridges in Alcoi. They are necessary structures, as the city is surrounded by rivers and ravines. The site has been settled for hundreds of years, and the modern city of Alcoi grew from a Moor outpost that had been named Alcoyll after a city in Tunisia.