The Sea Bridge

The Puente del Mar gets it’s name from being the natural way to the Grao or port, where the city’s goods arrived.

It was originally constructed of wood and but was destroyed in the flood of 1487. It was rebuilt in a factory but was destroyed again by the flood of 1589, having to be rebuilt again as it served as a link with the very busy road from the port during the sixteenth century.

The reconstruction was carried out at the request of the Board of Murs i Valls between1596 – 1597 this time using ashlar stone. The rebuild design consisted of 10 lowered arches over large flashing. The third arch of the old side houses two triangular cubicles where statues of the Virgin and San Pascual Bailon are kept. Upon completion of the bridge in 1596 it was agreed to install a casalicio which was assigned to the statues.

In the interior there is a cross on the roof and the images of San Vicente Ferrer, San Vicente Martir and San Juan Bautista. In 1709 lightning destroyed the casalicio and the partial reconstruction that followed included changing the cross to include an image of the Virgin of the Helpless, which was the work of Francisco Vergara Major in 1721. The rest of the images of saints were removed. The image of the Virgin of the Helpless, by twist of fate would ultimately end the Imperial College of San Vicente Orphans where it was be completely destroyed during the Civil War in 1936.

The bridge was constantly being destroyed by the successive floods that occurred, so the images of the casalicios were constantly being replaced and repaired. In 1936 the two images were completely destroyed in the civil conflict.

During the eighteenth century reforms were made on the bridge which consisted of putting ball ornaments on the balustrade and adding stone alcoves acting as benches to rest upon.

In 1933 the Puente del Mar became a totally pedestrian bridge after Javier Goerlich Lleó made the grand staircases and two pinnacles that adorn both sides of the bridge. It is a fantastic place to rest and rake in the breathtaking views.

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