The Tormes embrace
A tenacious river that accompanies
and defends

The history of Alba cannot be understood without the River Tormes. And this is a good place to see how Alba, from its origin, had in the river a defensive barrier against the attacks that could come from the other bank.

Over the centuries, several industries have been set on its right bank, which used the force of water to move elements. Among them, there were several water mills for making flour. Other industries that needed the River Tormes’s waters to function were tanneries and electricity generators. While the right bank was always more densely populated, the left one was devoted mostly to orchards; and joining the two, the beautiful medieval bridge.

The width of the River Tormes at this point is related with the Azul de Villagonzalo reservoir downstream from Alba, which is used for irrigation, for producing electricity and to provide water for Salamanca city and other localities.

An interesting route called “Ruta de las aceñas” (“Water mills route”), starting beside the bridge, allows the visitor to walk along the banks, among the riverside vegetation, to discover some of those old factories.