The San Martín bridge is a late-medieval construction, an example of military architecture, which rises over the Tagus River, as it passes through Toledo, in its western part, opposite the Alcántara bridge.
It was originally built in the 13th century, taking the name of the parish of San Martín, to whose jurisdiction it belonged. In its construction, it is likely that the Alcántara bridge was taken as a model, although more eyes had to be projected due to the greater width of the Tagus at this point in its course.
In the middle of the 14th century, around 1355, Pedro I of Castile would have set fire to the gates of the bridge and in 1368 it was damaged again. It was restored by Archbishop Pedro Tenorio, around 1390, who had the great central arch and the two crenellated towers at the ends built.
The bridge is entirely made of ashlar masonry, consisting of five slightly pointed arches, the central one much larger. The tower furthest from the city is hexagonal in shape, internally organized into spaces covered by brick ribbed vaults. On its façade there is a sculpture of San Julián.
During the reign of Carlos II of Spain it was reformed, widening its accesses, and a century later it was paved. An inscription of both reforms remains on the inner wall of the entrance tower, with the imperial coat of arms flanked by two seated kings.
