Sometimes called the Roman bridge, as it was thought to have been built on the foundations of an earlier Roman bridge, this was promptly abandoned when the 16th century expansion of the Mercadillo district required a better link with the Ciudad. Then, the Guadelevín was a much deeper river - 19th century photographs show large rowboats navigating it, now impossible with the river diverted for irrigation and domestic use - and prone to flooding. Eventually, the Moorish bridge was abandoned when the bridge above it was built. It is guarded nowadays by local legend señor Sanz, a neighbour whose name appears quite a lot nearby, and who may be building Ronda's answer to the Watts Towers in his garden across the bridge.