Villarta de San Juan

Roman Bridge 

Declared National Artistic Monument on November 30, 1983.

It is originally Roman, though its structure was consolidated strengthened in Medieval times, as an important section for the continuation of the Roman paved road from Consaburus a Laminio. The location of Villarta coincides with that of the Roman town of Murum, which many historians situate in Villarta or the vicinity of the village. 

Known locally as "el Puente Viejo" (The Old Bridge) it is located between kilometres 145 and 146 of the old national motorway Madrid-Cádiz ("Nacional IV"), and comprises an arch spanning approximately 300 metres.

It goes over a depression that gathers the waters of the rivers Gigüela and Záncara, brought together in a lagoon of great ecological value.

The importance of this Bridge is seen by its measurements: approximately 300 metres in length and seven in width, with 36 spans or arches, all different and distributed in an irregular manner, evidence of the exhaustive knowledge they had of the land on which it was built, collecting the different water currents formed by the river in its slow flow down the marshy area.

The last four spans have been discovered during the restoration works being carried out: up until now, they had been concealed by rubble or by the works carried out in 1920, when the Andalucía road was built. However, we can assume the existence of further spans, now not recoverable due to being under this road.

Its first section it features two rectangular lay-bys measuring 12 x 5.5 metres, separated by some 140 metres, and abutting the left side towards the North. Opposite, and between them, there is a small triangular cutwater measuring approximately 2 metres on each side, which serves to distribute the river's water flow of the river, and to provide additional support, as the buttresses.

Down the length of the bridge, and on both sides, you can see the gargoyles for conveying rain water off the bridge, made of fine channelled tiles.

Currently, the restoration of this bridge has made it possible to recover a historic and emblematic monument, thus maintaining a part of our history.

Parallel to the restoration of the monument, the surrounding landscape has been the subject of special rehabilitation, with the construction of gangways which make it easier to access and view the work, as well as an ecological programme for the area, with the insertion of autochthonous fauna and flora.

Old Church 

At the entrance of the village we find 'Santa María La Mayor' Church, dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, known locally as the "Old Church".

Its was built in rural late Gothic style, with a Latin Cross floor plan, though nowadays only one of the arms survives. It was built on the remains of a defensive fortress of the Order of Saint John (it appears under the concept of 'Muro' (Wall) in the donations of King Fernando III to the Order of Saint John; the coincidence of the name 'Muro' with that of the Old Roman Murum, mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonius is quite significant).

The interior features a single nave with a raised choir supported on two columns, which communicates with the belfry.

Its exterior features a rigid structure, strengthened by twelve buttresses, six on the main façade and six at the back, a single door with a roman arch in the main façade - an arrangement which is mirrored in the back façade, although in this case the door is walled up.

The façade faces West and supports the tower. This tower is divided into four parts, the last of which is open on all its sides, and serves as a belfry.

It is topped by a quadrangular pyramid, which supports on each corner as small turret also ending in a pyramid shape. This is an additional construction carried out by the local builder Tomas Romero García after the Civil War.

At the back, a gardened area has been created recently, to serve as a lookout point with views of the river and the roman bridge. The main façade has been rendered in stone, integrating part of the square within the context of the church . 

Clock Tower 

This building was originally built in the 17th century, though only the first third is conserved of this period. It has a square base and comprises three bodies: the first two older in construction than the third, which is more modern and is topped by a shrine.

It is located on 'Plaza de la Paz' (Peace Square), together with the main façade of the Town Hall.  The small door leading to the tower is located at the front, and the end part is taken up by the clock machine, crowned by a small balustrade around the perimeter of the Tower. This last section includes a circular shrine supported on six columns.

'Plaza de La Paz'

This is the location of the Town Hall, built in 1970. Next to the façade of the town hall is the Clock Tower, dating from an 17th century construction, though only a third of the building of that period survives, its end part being taken up by the clock machine.

It is worthwhile looking at the noble house whose façade takes up most of the Northern part, known as "Casa del Requete", built after 1913.

'Plaza de San Pedro' (Saint Peter's Square) 

This square was renovated in 1999, and features a wheel in the middle.

Other Buildings

There are some early 20th century buildings, such as that mentioned above, Casa del Requete, which practically takes up the Northern side of Plaza de la Paz. 'Casa de Las Davisas' located on Calle Cervantes, on the corner of Calle Monte, a perfect example of a noble house in La Mancha. These are both classified as Building of Local Interest.

There are other typical constructions, which we could term as examples of industrial architecture, related to the wine industry. We refer to the bodegas and distilleries, with their enormous chimneys, which are perfectly preserved.