Gate and bridge of Alcantara

You’re standing at the foot of the city, in front of the beautiful Alcántara Gate. Built in the 10th century during the time of the Umayyads, it’s one of the last remaining traces of their presence in Toledo—along with the Bab al-Mardum Mosque, now better known as the Mosque of Christ of the Light. The Umayyads once ruled over much of Spain, pushing the Christian kingdoms to the far north. But by the end of the 10th century, their Caliphate based in Córdoba began to collapse, splintering into smaller independent kingdoms known as taifas. Toledo became one of them. Over the centuries, the Alcántara Gate was badly damaged and eventually buried beneath later constructions. It was only rediscovered in the early 20th century, and restored to its current form in 1960. Just behind it, you’ll spot the Alcántara Bridge—also called Trajan’s Bridge, as it was originally built in 104 CE to honour the Roman Emperor Trajan, born here in Hispania. This elegant Roman structure spans the Tagus River, and just like the gate, it has endured centuries of war, floods, and rebuilding. But given its age, it’s a small miracle that it’s still standing! Perhaps its strength lies in the bold Latin inscription carved above the central arch: “This bridge will stand for as long as the world endures.” It was the work of Lacer, a celebrated architect of his time. And well… he clearly had reason to be confident!