The Old Railway Bridge in Villamalea

The Bridge of the Old Villamalea Railway is an impressive work of industrial engineering that formed part of the Baeza–Utiel railway project. This structure, which crosses valleys or ravines with large arches, never saw trains pass over it, but today it remains as a monument to the ambition of 20th-century transport.
Its construction in stone and concrete stands out for its solidity and technical elegance, integrating surprisingly well into the landscape of the area. Today, this bridge is a highly valued heritage resource for hikers and cycle tourists who follow the old railway routes. It represents the industrial archaeology of La Manchuela, offering a unique perspective of the landscape and recalling a historical chapter of hope and development that has left a lasting mark on the territory of Villamalea.
In the 1980s, this bridge and other adjoining structures were used for mushroom cultivation due to the ideal temperature conditions for their growth, forming the early entrepreneurial basis of mushroom farming, which is now a key driver of the main economic activity in Villamalea, together with agriculture.