Roman Bridge of Alcantara Free 3D model

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The Alcantara Bridge is a Roman arch bridge that crosses the Tagus River, built between 104 and 106 AD in the town of Caceres. It consists of six arcs of varying height that rest on five pillars carved from slate rock. A commemorative shrine featuring an arch of triumph at its center tops the bridge, measuring 10 meters high, and is dedicated to Trajan. The bridge's framework is constructed using rusticated blocks of granite, measuring between 45 and 50 cm in width. Beneath the bridge lies a small Roman temple dedicated to the bridge's constructor, known as Lacer, which was Christianized during the Middle Ages with the name of San Julian. A steeple and cross supported by four granite skulls were added later, serving as a memorial for the architect Gaius Julius Lacer. Inscriptions on the bridge indicate that it was built in honor of Roman Emperor Trajan, born in Hispania. The bridge's meriodional entry features an inscription listing the bridge's engineer, Key Julio Lacer. Alcantara Bridge connected seven villas, each subject to different taxes, as part of an effort to unite Norba (Caceres) with Conimbriga (Condeixa-a-Velha), a goal which aimed to complete Via de la Plata station. The bridge is named after the "al-Qantarat" term used during the Muslim invasion in the Middle Ages, meaning "bridge" in Arabic.