Alcalá de Guadaíra and the legend of the Dragon Bridge
The famous and unique Dragon Bridge symbolises a legend that dates back to Almohad times, when the Moorish king gave his young son a dragon egg, which the boy looked after in a cave under the castle. Located in the beautiful nature area on the banks of the River Guadaíra, an idyllic spot dotted with water mills, if you look up you'll see the castle above and the magic that surrounds the place gets stronger.
The queen had to leave Seville because of her poor health and had to take refuge in the Alcalá Castle together with her three children, hoping that the sun, fresh air, pure water and delicious bread of Alcalá would help her get better. One day, the king returned and brought little Yacub a dragon's egg. Stolen from pirates, it was a magical amulet that gave its wearer the strength and agility of dragons.
Placed in the basement according to instructions from Sigrid, a Norman servant, Yacub, the youngest son, would hug it every day to keep it warm. One morning after the new moon, the little boy found it broken along with a tiny green dragon that had a small crest, tiny folded wings, and tiny little legs that ended in sharp claws. He gave him milk and small pieces of bread from Alcalá and the dragon grew bigger and stronger. One night, Yacub was looking for it outside when suddenly he felt himself hoisted onto its massive back. After that they flew over Alcalá night after night.
The queen, whose health had improved, decided to return to Seville. However, upon reaching the Roman bridge, a group of bandits blocked their way. When the leader approached the mother, a curtain of fire hid everything. Yes, the dragon had come to the rescue! The bandits fled in terror, but the only bridge to Seville was on fire. "Don't worry," said the dragon, "I'll be the bridge." And, stretching out his enormous body, the queen and her entourage crossed on his back.
Since then, the dragon continues to rest in the grottoes and caves under the castle while protecting the city. It also helps the bakers of Alcalá to keep the fire going in the ovens where the bread is baked. That is why it is so rich and nutritious: it has the power of a dragon!
The Dragon Bridge, on the River Guadaíra, was designed by well-known engineer José Luis Manzanares and uses the technique of trencadís, or broken tile mosaics, as a tribute to Gaudí. It is the only figurative bridge in Spain and, in a way, it looks very much like the dragon that lives under the Moorish castle.
