Alamillo Bridge, Seville, Spain, 1987 — 1992

Client: Junta de Andalucía
Architect-Engineer: Santiago Calatrava
Construction: 1987-1992
Bridge Type: Cable-stayed with counterweight pylon
Span: 200 meters
Pylon Height: 142 meters
Use: Mixed-use, Road and pedestrian traffic
Architectural Style: Postmodern

The Local Authorities of Seville commissioned architect Santiago Calatrava to design a bridge to provide access to the Isla de la Cartuja, where the Seville Universal Exposition (Expo '92) was to be held. It is important to note that in his initial design, Calatrava had planned two symmetrical and opposing bridges on each side of the island. Subsequently, due to significant budget cuts, the client opted for a single bridge plus a viaduct, reaching a total length of 500 meters. The Alamillo Bridge was finally located crossing the San Jerónimo meander, becoming an authentic architectural icon for the city.

Calatrava positioned the pedestrian walkway several meters higher than the road traffic lanes; in this way, apart from offering greater safety, the bridge became not only a crossing point but also a place for meeting and recreation.

The most outstanding feature of the structure is, without a doubt, the spectacular 142-meter-high cable-stayed pylon. Supported by 13 pairs of cables anchored to the lower part of the deck and by its own weight, it sustains the 200-meter-long main span. This massive pylon contains an internal staircase leading to a viewpoint at the summit known as "El ojo de la cabeza de caballo" (The eye of the horse's head). The pylon is inclined at an angle of 58 degrees, similar to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu).

The Alamillo Bridge is located very close to the Barqueta Bridge, a tied-arch bridge designed by the prestigious engineer Juan José Arenas de Pablo, which was also built to provide access to the Expo '92 event.

The deck, formed by a box girder, was designed for mixed use, distributed into three lanes for road traffic in each direction and a higher walkway for pedestrians and bicycles in the center. The initial inspiration for this majestic bridge came from a previous sculpture called "Moving Torso". Due to its design and innovation, it has become one of the most beautiful reference bridges in the world.

The Alamillo Bridge in Seville was a pioneer, as it became the first cable-stayed bridge in the world to feature a counterweight pylon without back-stays; this fact required Calatrava to significantly increase the width of the bridge.

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TURNING TORSO - SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

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Author Biography

José Miguel Hernández Hernández is a technical author specializing in iconic architecture, structural engineering, and the digital transformation of the AECO sector. His works analyze the world's most influential buildings from a technical and visual perspective.

His analytical rigor has been recognized by the Arquia Foundation, which selected his work for its prestigious official catalog, consolidating him as a leading voice in bilingual architectural discourse.

As a Smart Home and Electric Mobility Consultant and Director of TuHogarConectado, José Miguel merges cutting-edge engineering with applied technology. Through his platforms ArquitecturaCarreras and jmhdezhdez, he leads a multidisciplinary curation that connects classical aesthetics with BIM methodology.

He is the author of landmark technical monographs, such as "Turning Torso - Santiago Calatrava" and "Construcciones Famosas", dissecting the intersection of high engineering, art, and innovation.

Text, Edition & Photographs: © José Miguel Hernández Hernández | Technical Translation: Gemini AI