English translation: the width of the street crossing it with an arch
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Spanish to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Tourism & Travel
Spanish term or phrase:sobre el arroyo de una calle salvándola
As part of the research I'm doing to back up my translation, I've come across this description, and I don't understand it. It's talking about an immense, square bell tower that had an arched passageway that was used to get from one part to another of the city.
Por último, hay que mencionar al templo del Carmen que tuvo su convento de la Encarnación anexo; de ese conjunto de los siglos XVII y XVIII se conserva una bella torre de estilo un tanto cercano al mudéjar, que se levanta sobre el arroyo de una calle salvándola por medio de un arco.
Explanation: que se levanta sobre el arroyo de una calle salvándola por medio de un arco = that soars over the width of the street crossing it with an arch
I've seen these transitways between buildings in many European countries, north and south. Pure conjecture, but the root of the DRAE "Arroyo" definition that Alejandro has provided might have a geographical basic. The famous "Rambla" in Barcelona was once a stream. In Spain, certain streets flanked by high walls and referred to a "rieras" are the natural channels for storm run-off. If the storm is big the resulting torrent carries everything with it. It's a stretch but these transitways might have been a solution to flooding conditions in the street between the two buildings.
That article finally explains it! So the roadway passed through the arch, and I suppose the nuns climbed to the next story across and down to reach their other buildings. Ingenious design!
Explanation: que se levanta sobre el arroyo de una calle salvándola por medio de un arco = that soars over the width of the street crossing it with an arch
Henry Hinds Local time: 13:14 Native speaker of: English, Spanish PRO pts in category: 173
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4