Hernán Ruiz II Renaissance Bridge
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Benamejí España
Lat. 37.2420365000 Long. -4.5521274000
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Hernán Ruiz II Renaissance Bridge

6.5 metres wide

Navigation gauge: 20 metres

This is a 16th century bridge, which spans the course of the Genil River, following the old Antequera road. It is located on an old section of the national road from Cordoba to Malaga (CN-331), between the municipalities of Benamejí - El Tejar.

It is a project by the Renaissance architect Hernán Ruiz II, and of all his engineering works, this is the only example of a new construction that he executed entirely by himself. Its most outstanding value is that it is a work of engineering that responds exemplarily to the Renaissance canons of geometry, composition, proportions and almost ornamental nudity.

With three arches of different sizes, the Genil River flows over the central eye of the bridge, controlled upstream by the Iznájar reservoir. Over this central eye is the coat of arms of Don Diego de Bernuy, one of the oldest coats of arms of the town of Benamejí. It is in poor condition and is awaiting restoration.

As a whole, it is a design of mediaeval tradition, although its proportions are in keeping with Renaissance concepts. The deck is situated some twenty metres above the level of the river, maintaining the layout of the road in this area practically horizontal, despite the depth of the riverbed.

The lateral arches, between abutments and piers, are semicircular and run along a line of fascia that runs along the supporting elements. They have a span of 88 dm and their threads are slightly recessed. The central arch, with a span of 30 m, is also semicircular, starting at water level and also has a recessed thread. At a certain height, we can recognise some large recesses that probably correspond to the anchorages of the falsework used for its construction. The three arches are backed by a simple chamfered moulding.

The bridge is made of regular, medium-sized, well-cut, even-coloured ashlars of fossiliferous stone. The parapet, which lacks mouldings and has chamfered edges, runs along the perimeter of both sides of the roadway. The road widens over the cutwaters, creating a kind of protected viewpoint or halt.

It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2001, as it was not common in the 16th century to build bridges of this magnitude and perfection.

Puente Renacentista Hernán Ruiz II
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Oratory of the Lord of Mercy. Renaissance Bridge of Benamejí. Downloads

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Almedinilla Benamejí Cabra Carcabuey Doña Mencía Encinas Reales Fuente Tójar Iznájar Lucena Luque Palenciana Priego de Córdoba Rute Zuheros
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