Viaducto de Segovia

Panoramic views of the west of the city on a historic and iconic bridge

The Segovia Viaduct is a civil engineering work that dates back to 1931. Also known as the Bailén Viaduct, the bridge connects the Royal Palace with the Basilica of San Francisco El Grande and it negotiates the difference in level between Calle de Bailén and the Manzanares River.

Built in polished reinforced concrete, the Viaduct was erected in 1931 to replace an earlier one built in 1874. In the Rationalist style, it is made up of three 35-metre vaults that soar above Calle Segovia.

At its accesses there is a network of stairways and platforms which connect on one side with the Cuesta de los Ciegos and on the other with Calle Mayor through the Escalinata del Fotógrafo Alfonso. An environment in which we can find such historical elements as the Fuente de Caños Viejos, which boasts the oldest stone coat of arms in Madrid.

The viaduct offers stunning panoramic views of the Casa de Campo Park, the Royal Palace, La Almudena Cathedral and the west of the city. It has a protective barrier that runs alongside the handrails, a safety element designed to prevent falls and suicide attempts, sadly all too frequent in days gone by, as has been depicted in literature and films.

An iconic setting for such directors as Pedro Almodóvar or Jonás Trueba which still retains its versatile ability to serve as a setting for different historical periods, as is the case with recent series such as Las Chicas del Cable and El Ministerio del Tiempo.

Updated: 11/02/2021