[Puente del Diablo, Martorell] 1854 - 1858

Charles Clifford captured this imposing structure, the ‘Devil’s Bridge’ of Martorell, in a photograph of stark beauty. The bridge itself—a symbol of connection, of overcoming divides—here bears a darker hue, laden with folklore. The arch, reaching across the river, echoes the Roman aqueducts, those lifelines of civilization. Yet, this bridge is no mere conduit. Its very name evokes a pact, a Faustian bargain made to span the impassable. Bridges, throughout history, have marked not only physical passages but also the crossing of spiritual boundaries. Consider the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of ancient Rome, literally ‘bridge-builder,’ tasked with appeasing the gods, bridging the divine and mortal realms. Over time, such sacred structures acquire layers of myth and fear, resonating in our collective memory. The ‘Devil’s Bridge’ taps into this primal fear of the unknown, the forces lurking beneath the surface. It stands as a potent symbol, reflecting our enduring fascination with the liminal spaces where the earthly meets the infernal.