Beginning in the 12th century the citizens of Zaragoza tried to build a bridge across the Ebro. In 1401–1440, the Puente de Piedra was built under the direction of
Gil de Menestral. The
flood in 1643 destroyed two central bridge spans. The bridge then looked as it does in the painting "View of Zaragoza" by
Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo (1647). In 1659 the bridge was reconstructed. Architect
Felipe de Busignac restored two destroyed towers and expanded the bridge piers. In 1789, architect Agustín Sanz strengthened the Ebro's bank at the Monastery of St. Lazarus to prevent the risk of flooding of the bridge. The reconstruction of the bridge was of great economic importance for the development of the region and all the country. ==Literature==