A gift to the city
Businessman Alberto González paid for it, about six million dollars, and commissioned Calatrava. The steel parts were made in Spain and shipped over.
Urban Tales › Buenos Aires › Puente de la Mujer
Puente de la Mujer: a bridge that turns
Santiago Calatrava's first work in Latin America, the Puente de la Mujer opened in Puerto Madero in December 2001. Its central span turns to let boats through the dock.
ArchitectSantiago Calatrava
Opened20 December 2001
Length170 m
Mast34 m, angled at 39°
Hear the Puente de la Mujer story, in the app's voice
A short preview. The full story plays on its own when you walk up to it with Urban Tales.
Three stories most visitors miss
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2
It moves
The 112.5-metre central section pivots on a pillar in the water, so boats can pass through the dock. The whole moving part weighs about 800 tonnes.
3
A tango couple
The slanted mast and the curved deck are often described as a couple dancing tango. The name fits Puerto Madero, where the streets are named after women.
TipCome at dusk, when the bridge and the docks light up, and walk across to the restored brick warehouses on the other side. With Urban Tales running, its story plays as you reach the dock.
Nearby landmarks
Puente de la Mujer: common questions
Who designed the Puente de la Mujer?
The Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It was his first work in Latin America.
Why is it called Puente de la Mujer?
It's in Puerto Madero, where the streets are named after women, and its shape is often compared to a couple dancing tango.
Does the bridge really turn?
Yes. Its central section pivots to let boats pass through the dock.