Dominique Perrault's metallic double-helix pedestrian bridge over the Madrid Río — two spiraling steel ribbons wrapped in a perforated skin, crossing the river where a motorway once ran. Part of the ambitious project that buried the ring road and reclaimed the riverbank as parkland, it's as much sculpture as infrastructure, especially when golden-hour light filters through the metal mesh. For visitors exploring the Madrid Río park, it's a striking modern landmark and a photographer's favorite — a functional crossing that doubles as one of the most distinctive pieces of contemporary design along the river.
Location
Arganzuela, Madrid
Map
Insider Intel
Each cone is a self-supporting helicoid — six straight chords crossed by two interlaced stainless spirals, its diameter swelling from five to twelve metres. Look down: the deck is deliberately slit so no dark zone forms beneath. From inside the cone it frames the 18th-century Puente de Toledo.
Raking light early or late, or after dark when it is floodlit. It is the most photographed structure in Madrid Río, so weekend afternoons are busiest.
Free public infrastructure with no gate or ticket. Metro Legazpi or Marqués de Vadillo. Note the 09:00–22:00 limit published for Matadero applies to that site, not to the bridge.