Step back into Manila’s rich history as you learn about the Puente Colgante, historically known as the Puente de Clavería. Spanning the Pasig River to connect the districts of Quiapo and Ermita, this groundbreaking structure was completed in 1852. Designed by Spanish-Basque engineer Matias Menchacatorre for Matia, Menchacatorre y Cía. and owned by Jose Joaquín de Ynchausti’s Ynchausti y Compañia, it set a major engineering milestone as the very first modern wire-cable suspension bridge built in Asia.
You will appreciate its place in regional heritage as the Philippines' first toll bridge of its kind, measuring 110 meters long and 7 meters wide. When you explore its story, picture the two lanes that once accommodated foot traffic for pedestrians traveling between Quiapo, nearby areas, and Intramuros, alongside horses and carabao-drawn carriages. Acclaimed by 20th-century writer Nick Joaquin as a salute to the age of science and engineering, the bridge stood as a unique symbol of the Industrial Age in the Philippines before its replacement by the Quezon Bridge in 1939.
Discover a fascinating site where historic transportation and world-class 19th-century Basque engineering met.
What to see at Puente Colgante
- First modern wire-cable suspension bridge built in Asia (completed 1852)
- Designed by Spanish-Basque engineer Matias Menchacatorre
- Connected Manila's Quiapo and Ermita districts across the Pasig River
- Historically accommodated pedestrians, horses, and carabao-drawn carriages
- Replaced by the historic Quezon Bridge in 1939
Visiting tips
Keep in mind that while local rumors once attributed the design to Gustave Eiffel, historical records confirm it was designed by a Basque engineer and later replaced by the Quezon Bridge.
How long: 30-45 minutes · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Puente Colgante is easy to reach on Manila’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Malacañang Palace and Rizal Park. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Manila travel guide.
See the full Manila travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.