Paseo de los Pontones

The name recalls the pontones: boards laid over boats that crossed the Manzanares when there was no stone bridge. In 1761 the San Isidro pontoon was built here, shortening the route between the church of San Andrés and the saint’s hermitage across the river, and it stayed in service until the early 20th century. The camino de los Pontones ran down from the Puerta de Toledo toward the riverbank, and ended up gathering what the city preferred to keep outside the walls. The cattle dealings once done near the Rastro were moved here, and on an adjoining esplanade the condemned were also executed: General Diego de León was shot there in 1841. Today’s promenade, now with trees and sidewalks, occupies ground that once saw livestock fairs and executions.