Puntos de Interés
Infrastructure
The Bridge of San Lorenzo
The Bridge of San Lorenzo represents the final viaduct to span the River Tormes before it gives way to the River Duero. The natural course of the river delineates the border between Salamanca, Zamora and Portugal, a mere 11 km downstream from this bridge. This modern structure stands on the site known as La Cicutina, in an environment dominated by the canyon of the Tormes River and by thickets of broom (Cytisus scoparius), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and thyme(Thymus vulgaris) scattered on the slopes, always under the watchful eye of the birds of prey that fly over these skies, such as the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri), the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei) and the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).
The Bridge of San Lorenzo serves as a conduit for both motorised and pedestrian traffic, facilitating the passage between the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca via the SA-316 and ZA-316 secondary roads. Indeed, at the exact centre of the road, on one of the stones of its petril, there is an inscription which delineates the boundary between the two south-western provinces of Castile and León. A second inscription of a more archaic nature, dates from 1871 and alludes to the conclusion of the construction works that were responsible for the inauguration of the bridge.
Despite its Roman-style design, characterised above all by semicircular arches and large masonry stones, the Bridge of San Lorenzo responds to the pragmatic architecture of the 19th century. As would be expected, the bridge's construction involved the use of pillars comprising ashlars of granite native to Los Arribes, with four rounded cutwaters serving to reinforce the five spans of the bridge.
The Bridge of San Lorenzo, situated on the Zamora bank of the Tormes river, provides an ideal location for a picnic and a swim in its cold waters. This area, known as Playa de la Cicutina, is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. This river deposit is a backwater that contrasts with the steep terrain and the rocky river bed, where large boulders and boulders from the surrounding slopes dominate.