The small wooden bridge in the city of Arronches (Portugal) is called El Marco. The bridge is modest in size, only 6m long and 1.45m wide, connecting the town of La Codosera (Spain) with the parish of Esperança (Portugal).
Small in size and structure allowing only pedestrians or two-wheeled vehicles to pass, this is considered the smallest international bridge in the world .
The bridge was built in 2008 across the Abrilongo stream – the stream that forms the natural border between Portugal and Spain, connecting the village of El Marco (Spain) with Várzea Grande (Portugal).
According to local legend, many goods were smuggled across this bridge in the past. It was also a place where goods were exchanged, with the Portuguese side selling towels and coffee, and the Spanish side selling cutlery and wine.
Previously, there was only a temporary wooden walkway at this location, which was often washed away by floods. The current bridge is more solid and can withstand harsh weather, but due to its small size, it only serves pedestrians, bicycles and motorbikes.
Despite its simplicity, the world’s smallest international bridge carries deep historical and cultural significance. It is not only a physical link between two countries, but also a symbol of the close ties between the communities on both sides of the border. People who share the same traditions, history and social ties.
In addition to its historical and cultural significance, the bridge is also a unique tourist attraction and geographical landmark, demonstrating the historical relationship between Portugal and Spain. The two countries have experienced periods of confrontation but also enjoyed close cooperation.
To this day, this unique structure continues to attract visitors from both sides of the border and many other parts of the world. Since Portugal and Spain joined the Schengen Agreement, border controls are no longer required between the two countries, making it easy for tourists and locals to travel across the bridge.
Interestingly, the bridge also spans a “time boundary” due to the time zone difference between the two countries. Specifically, Spain operates on Central European Time (CET/CEST), while Portugal uses Greenwich Mean Time (GMT/BST). Thus, Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal.
Because it is located on the gentle Abrilongo River, people joke that in the dry season, the river is so shallow that there is no need for a bridge, just jump across to get to the other side.
The current bridge was rebuilt with funding from the European Union, replacing a temporary bridge that served the daily travel of people from both countries for decades.
To this day, many tourists still want to go to El Marco bridge to experience the feeling of time travel, going from one country to another in just a few seconds and an hour faster if going from Portugal to Spain.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/cay-cau-ngan-nhat-the-gioi-di-vai-giay-sang-nuoc-khac-thay-doi-ca-mui-gio-20250803153426137.htm
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