Oldest Bridge
The bridge La Garita,
located in Atenas, is
one of the oldest bridge
in the country and 161
years later is still
standing and in use.
Built during the José
María Alfaro (1842-1846)
administration, the
bridge was built to open
passage to Puntarenas
with money raised by a
group of San José women
from donations.
The bridge is also
important from an
historical point as on
May 12, 1857, where
president Juan Rafael
Mora with his victorious
army faced the
filibusters of the
Campaña Nacional de
1856.
The Campaña Nacional de
1856 was the greatest
political and cultural
threat to Costa Rica as
it faced the rising
power of U.S. mercenary
William Walker in
Nicaragua, who after
winning control of
Nicaragua set his sights
on Costa Rica.
The structure is made of
stone and "algamasa" - a
combination of egg
white, sand and lime.
The narrow bridge,
though still used today
by area residents,
receives a lot of
tourists. |
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