Bridge Sublicio (Ponte Sublicio) - wooden and stone. Across Europe without a car Roman bridges

When we think of buildings that have survived to this day, we tend to think of the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the pyramids. But what about the structures that are still used - for their intended purpose - to this day?

While most ancient structures have been given a second life as tourist attractions, a simple, unassuming bridge can retain its original purpose for centuries.

There are many bridges that were built hundreds of years ago and are still used in everyday life today due to the fact that they were built to last.

While older bridges are more likely to be destroyed by natural disasters, blown up during wars, or burned down in tragic accidents, the bridges on this list have survived the centuries relatively unchanged.

10. Fabricius Bridge (Pons Fabricius), Rome, Italy

The Romans built many things that have stood the test of time. Thanks to their rigorous and efficient construction techniques, several important structures built during the Roman era still stand today. If you want to carefully examine and study the fruits of their handicraft, then go to Rome and visit the Fabrician Bridge.

The bridge was built by Lucius Fabricius in 62 BC, probably to replace a burnt wooden bridge. You can tell that Lucius ordered it to be built, since he wrote it on the bridge in four different places.

In 21 BC. two consuls, Marcus Lollius and Quintus Aemilius Lepidus, made adjustments to the bridge so that it would be better preserved after the flood that occurred in 23 BC. True, what specific improvements were made is not indicated anywhere.

It may have been the addition of a small arch on the bridge that relieved pressure during floods. This is probably the only thing that helped the bridge survive for centuries.

9. Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy


Built in 1345, the Ponte Vecchio is located in Florence, Italy. It was erected to replace a wooden bridge that failed during the flood, so it is still preserved in its original splendor.
An interesting feature of the Ponte Vecchio bridge (which in Italian means " old bridge") is a vaulted gallery with shops. Today, jewelry and various souvenirs are sold here, and originally there were butchers' shops in the arcade. In fact, because of the fishmongers and butchers who traded here in the 15th century, there is still an unpleasant smell on the bridge.

Considering that at that time Florence was becoming the capital of the Renaissance, Grand Duke Ferdinand I banned the sale of meat and fish on the bridge, ordering that only gold and silversmiths' shops should be located on it, which created an attractive image for the city, helping to increase the flow of wealthy foreign tourists.

The bridge would hardly have survived to this day if not for the act of respect shown during World War II. When German soldiers leaving the city, they blew up all the bridges during their retreat. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that they did not touch, preferring to destroy access to it rather than the bridge itself.

8. Rialto Bridge (Ponte Di Rialto), Venice, Italy


The Italian Bridge was built in 1591 on the site of a collapsed wooden bridge. It was designed by the architect Antonio de Ponte, who competed in the competition for best project bridge along with such outstanding architects as Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola.

Unfortunately, after the bridge was built, it did not meet with an enthusiastic response among local residents. He received both praise and contemptuous ridicule from critics, who sharply condemned his design as “unstable and ungraceful.” The same attention was drawn to Eiffel Tower after it was built.

Despite criticism, the bridge has remained largely untouched since its inception. Given that it had to have a 7-meter arch to allow galleys to sail underneath, and also be strong enough to accommodate a row of benches in the center, it had to be structurally sound and durable. The Rialto Bridge is so strong that cannons were fired from it during the riots of 1797.

7. Khaju Bridge, Isfahan, Iran


The construction of this bridge, erected on the foundations of an old bridge in 1667, began by order of Shah Abbas II. As a bridge it serves its primary purpose of allowing people to cross the Zayandeh River, but it has other uses as well. The Khaju Bridge also functions as a dam (and has locks), and its most interesting use is the social aspect.

Even though we are not used to bridges being used as places for public gatherings, this did not stop Shah Abbas II from trying to build one of these. Impressive designs and patterns of ceramic tiles can still be seen along the bridge. A pavilion was built in the middle so that Shah Abbas II and his courtiers could enjoy the picturesque landscape.

Today, the pavilion houses a cafe and an art gallery. A stone seat was installed in the pavilion, on which Shah Abbas II enjoyed the view of the river. The place is still there, but as a remnant of its former glory.

6. Shaharah Bridge, Amran, Yemen


The Shekhar Bridge (or "Bridge of Sighs" as many call it), built in the 17th century, is located at an altitude of 200 meters and connects two mountains - Jabal al Emir and Jabal al Faish Faish).

It was difficult for local residents, whose houses were located on the slopes of both mountains, to visit each other, since to do this they first had to descend from one mountain and climb the other. The bridge was built to connect two villages on both sides of a deep gorge, thereby saving time and effort for local residents.

It was not just a dangerous area for Vehicle. Considering that this was the only entrance to the city of Shekhara, the bridge had to be fortified to repel the attacks of the Turkish invaders. They say that local residents They know a way to destroy the bridge at any moment, isolating the inhabitants from danger.

Today, Shekhar Bridge is a major tourist attraction and still serves the locals as a functioning bridge.

5. Cendere Bridge, Eskikale, Türkiye


Also known as Severan, the bridge was built in the 2nd century by four cities of the Kingdom of Commagene. The bridge was built in honor of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia and their two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Being one of the oldest, it is also the second most long bridge, built by the Romans.

Two columns rise on each side of the bridge, representing members of the imperial family: Severus and Julia on one side and Caracalla and Geta on the other. If you happen to visit the Jendere Bridge, you will see that the column representing Geta is missing.

All because Caracalla killed Geta because of constant rivalry, as they say, right in the arms of his mother. Moreover, Caracalla went so far as to order the murder of all of Geta's friends and allies, and as a final blow to Geta's legacy, he ordered the destruction of any mention of his brother so that his name would be erased from history - including the column symbolizing Geta.

4. Anji Bridge, Shijiazhuan, China


Anji Bridge, built in 605, is the oldest bridge in China. The bridge, whose name is translated from Chinese language means "Bridge of Safe Crossing", one might say, was built to last.

It was designed to be one of the best in the world. At that time it was considered technically progressive, as it had the largest arch. Considering that it is still quite strong, it is clear that the Anji Bridge, while a very ambitious structure, was not built at the expense of its appearance.

By the way, the bridge has passed much more than just the test of time. It has survived 10 floods, 8 wars and countless earthquakes, and has only required repairs 9 times in its documented lifespan.

3. Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant’Angelo), Rome, Italy


Built by order of Emperor Hadrian in 136, the Ponte Sant'Angelo is one of the most famous in Rome and one of the most beautiful.

To some extent, the emperor built the bridge for the sake of his own vanity, since its main purpose was to connect the entire city with the Mausoleum of Hadrian, the Castle of the Holy Angel (Castel Sant'Angelo).

One of the most beautiful improvements to the bridge occurred many centuries after the death of the emperor. In 1668, the Italian architect and sculptor Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini decorated the entire length of the bridge with ten statues of angels, two of which he created himself. Each of the angels holds in their hands a symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Even now, after several centuries, the bridge and the angels still stand, being a famous and beautiful landmark.

2. Tarr Steps, Exmoor, England


The Tarr Steps (known as the "bridge") is a slab crossing on a stone support. Given the design of the bridge, it is difficult to say when it was built: it is assumed that in the period from 3000 BC. until the Middle Ages. The first documentary description of the bridge was made in Tudor times, that is, at least at the end of the 15th century.

There is a legend about Tarr Steps that it was built by the devil himself, who swore to kill anyone who dared to cross it. Then local residents, wanting to test the theory, sent a cat along it. The cat disappeared. They then sent a vicar across the bridge to meet the devil in the middle of the bridge. After they agreed, the devil said that anyone could use the bridge, but if he wanted to use this place for sunbathing, then the ban on using the bridge would be renewed. So if you want to walk along the Tarr Steps walkways, first make sure there isn't a sunbathering devil in your way.

Unfortunately, Tarr Steps is a small exception among bridges that have stood untouched for centuries. Considering that a pile of stones does not make the best foundation, some of them were demolished by floods over time. For this reason, all the stones were numbered so that in such an event they could be placed back where they were, so that the bridge retains its authenticity. Even though some of the stones have been put back in place several times, it is technically still the same bridge.

1. Arkadiko Bridge, Argolina, Greece


This bridge is the oldest surviving one arch bridges, which is still used for its intended purpose. It is believed to have been built during the Greek Bronze Age, 1300-1200. BC.

During the Mycenaean civilization, the bridge was part of a military road that ran between the cities of Tiryns and Epidauros. The width of the bridge is almost 2.5 meters, which is much wider than conventional pedestrian bridges. According to historians, the bridge was designed in such a way that chariots could pass across it.

What makes it even more impressive is that it was constructed entirely from limestone stones without the use of any binder. This means that the Arkadik Bridge, solely thanks to the skill of its builders, stood for three millennia, starting from the time of the Mycenaean civilization, and has survived to this day.

Entire life Ancient Rome, which grew on the seven hills of the left bank of the Tiber, was inextricably linked with the river, which was the most important resource of the city, its defense and defensive line. It is for this reason that, for many hundreds of years, building bridges was considered inappropriate, since they could be used by potential enemies to invade the city. The first bridges of Rome were built from wood so that they could be easily destroyed at any time in case of a threat, and only when the Romans were confident in their power and strength did they begin to build them from stone.

Anna Capitolina

Hundreds of tourists stop here every day to once again capture themselves at the huge piece of ancient Roman history standing in the middle of the river. For hundreds of years, it has risen above the choppy waters of the Tiber at the point where the river makes its last turn before leaving the area. historical center Eternal City. These are the remains that have survived to this day. ancient bridge, called today Ponte Rotto

Anna Capitolina

Built by the architect Angelo Vescovali between 1884 and 1888, the double-arch bridge over the Tiber connected Trastevere, in the area of ​​​​Piazza Giuseppe Gioachino Belli, with the historical center of the Eternal City in the Lungotevere Dei Cenci embankment area. The Garibaldi Bridge in Rome was opened on June 6, 1888 and named after the hero of the Italian Risorgimento Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the main architects of the unification of Italy.

Anna Capitolina

The three-arch bridge over the Tiber, designed by Italian architect Angelo Vescovali, connects the Prati di Castello district with the center of Rome on the left bank of the river. It was opened on September 22, 1895 in the presence of King Umberto I of Italy and his wife Queen Margaret of Savoy, 10 years after construction began.

Anna Capitolina

August 4, 2018Many bridges in Rome have their own history. Spanning the Tiber, this bridge, designed in 1886 by the architect Ennio De Rossi, is a natural continuation of the wide Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Its opening took place on June 6, 1911, and was...

Anna Capitolina

The Nomentano Bridge was once witnessed major events from the life of Ancient Rome, it was often depicted on their canvases by Italian and foreign artists of different centuries, and today, despite a complete restoration carried out not so long ago, it remains abandoned.

Anna Capitolina,

July 12, 2018From the very founding of Rome, the Tiber was a natural barrier protecting the inhabitants of the city from attacks by enemy tribes with west side. Cross the river unnoticed rapid current it was quite difficult, and bridges connecting the right bank with the left were not built. But in...

Tiber, Tevere, Tiberis.
Without this river, Rome is not Rome. As well as without bridges connecting its banks.
The sources of the Tiber are in the Apennines, in the Emilia-Romagna region, then the path goes through Perugia, Umbria, Lazio and ends in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
In 753 BC, Rome was founded on the banks of this river, 25 km from Ostia (where the Tiber flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea).

According to legend, the infants Romulus and Remus were thrown into the waters of the Tiber in a basket.
“The slave put the children in a basket and carried them to the river. At this time, the Tiber overflowed, and the water continued to rise. The slave was afraid to enter the water. He put the basket on the shore, near the water, and left. He thought that the water would rise higher, catch the basket with the twins, and they would drown. But the basket with the children got caught in the branches of a tree growing on the shore. Meanwhile, the water subsided, and the twins fell out of the basket onto the ground and began to scream. This cry was heard by a she-wolf who came to the river to drink water. The she-wolf approached the children, affectionately licked them and gave them her milk to drink. Then the royal shepherd saw the twins, picked them up and raised them.” Years later, the brothers Romulus and Remus chose for the new city the place where they were once thrown out by the Tiber - the Palatine Hill.
Read the legend of Romulus, Remus and the founding of Rome.

Within Rome, there are twenty-one bridges across the Tiber, according to data I found on the Internet.
Like elements of a mosaic, they, like every Roman stone, fountain, street or stone, create the very familiar face of Rome that is familiar to us. Or so it seems.

I won't show you all the bridges.
You can, of course, set a goal, make a forced march along the Tiber, photograph all the bridges and tell about each one. But Rome does not dispose me to this. You are walking along an invented route, and suddenly you turn into some street, and behind it another, and so on ad infinitum...
And then, with your head buried in the map, you frantically try to return to the starting point. Roman creative disorder.

So, wandering from street to street, we approached the Umberto I Bridge (Ponte Umberto I), connecting the Courts Square (Piazza dei Tribunali) and the Palace of Justice with the Piazza di Ponte Umberto I and the surrounding area of ​​Piazza Navona (before Piazza Navona is 5-7 minutes walk from this place.

Construction continued for ten years from 1885 to 1895.
The opening ceremony on September 22, 1895 was attended by King Umberto I, after whom the bridge was named, with his wife Margaret of Savoy.

Bridge of the Holy Angel (Ponte Sant'Angelo) - pedestrian bridge, built in 134-139. Roman Emperor Hadrian.

Starting from the 16th century, executed prisoners began to be hanged on it to intimidate the population.
And at the same time, statues of the apostles Peter and Paul appeared on Ponte Sant’Angelo. They were later joined by ten angels made by Bernini's students.

Modern sources report that Bernini is the author of two angels: with a cross and with a tablet - hence

View of the Pont Sant'Angelo from the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Using zoom, of course.

Nowadays the bridge is loved not only by tourists, but also by traders and artists. Guests of Rome from all over the world stroll imposingly among the tents with souvenirs, trinkets and rows of fake bags lined up near the walls of the Castel Sant'Angelo.

View of the Pont Sant'Angelo from observation deck Castle Sant'Angelo.

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II - next to the Ponte Sant'Angelo.
It took almost 25 years (1886-1911) to build a new bridge dedicated to the first king of a united Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II. The four winged Victorias and four groups of sculptures placed on the bridge symbolize the unification of Italy, freedom, victory over oppressors and devotion to the new state.

The same bridge in November 2012. Photo from here.

The water rose to 13.50 meters.

In 1876, high embankments were built to prevent the river from overflowing.
The embankments are designed for a water rise of 18.45 meters
The streets along the embankment are today called lungoteveri ("along the Tiber").

We pass several bridges and find ourselves above the island of Tiberina (Isola Tiberina) - a small island on the Tiber.
The photo is not mine (I can’t fly), but taken from here.
At the top of the photo is the active Ponte Palatino bridge and next to it the destroyed Ponte Rotto bridge, which we will return to a little later.
And now attention to those bridges in the center, connecting the island of Tiberina with the opposite banks of the Tiber: Ponte Fabricio and Ponte Cestio.

Fabricio Bridge (Ponte Fabricio) is one of the oldest and best preserved bridges in Rome. It connects the island of Tiberina with eastern part cities. The bridge was built in 60-50 BC.
The name of the bridge was given in honor of Lucio Fabricio, the Roman trustee of bridges. Bridges in Rome were of strategic importance, therefore the bridge chiefs, who were responsible for their functioning and safety, were respected people with weight.

The Cestio Bridge (Ponte Cestio) is the oldest surviving bridge in Rome after the neighboring Fabricio Bridge.
The bridge connects the island of Tiberina with Trastevere. It was built around 40 - 50 BC. e., possibly by Lucius Cestius (brother of Gaius Cestius), subsequently restored several times.

The Emilio Bridge or the so-called Ruined Bridge (il Ponte Emilio - Ponte Rotto) is the first completely stone bridge (built in 142 BC).
The search for information about this bridge led me to a mention of the article “Bridge and City” in the magazine “Architecture of the USSR” for 1938 by the Soviet engineer and architect Ivan Sergeevich Nikolaev (1901-1979).

Excerpt: “The quality of this building can be judged by the fact that the bridge stood for 1,700 years, until it was completely restored in 1575. In its restored form, it stood for 23 years and collapsed during a flood in 1598. When restoring the bridge, the architect Matteo di Castello cared more about its sculptural design and did not notice that the contractor who carried out the stone work replaced the antique stone with rubble. Almost before Michelangelo's death, this great master was entrusted with the reconstruction of the bridge, but soon the order was taken away for the alleged reason that Michelangelo wasted too much stone. From here it is clear that Michelangelo, as an experienced builder, was aware of the need for large expenses to repair the bridge, which had stood for more than a millennium.”

July 12, 2018

From the very foundation of Rome, the Tiber was a natural barrier protecting the inhabitants of the city from attacks by enemy tribes from the western side. It was quite difficult to cross a river with a rapid current unnoticed, and bridges connecting the right bank with the left were not built. But during the reign of the fourth ancient Roman king, who annexed the Janiculum hill located on the other side of the river to Rome, it was necessary to build the first pile bridge across the Tiber in Roman history. It was built at the end of the 7th century BC. made entirely of wood, without the use of nails or iron. More than once the old Sublicio Bridge was destroyed for various reasons, but it was again restored and reconstructed.

The current bridge looks completely different, since its supports are made of stone, and it is located a little lower along the Tiber than the previous one.

Sublicio Bridge

Pile bridge

The old Ponte Sublicio connected the Forum Boar, located in the hollow between the Palatine, Capitoline and Aventine hills, with the modern one. To date, no traces of the bridge remain, but there is an assumption that it was located in the area of ​​the modern Via del Porto. The hypothesis is based on the fact that the destroyed parts of the bridge were located in this area until 1890, until they were dismantled during measures to protect Rome from floods.

Sublicio pile bridge (reconstruction)

The Legend of Horace

The wooden Ponte Sublicio is associated with one of the legends about how the ancient Roman hero Horace Cocles, with two military friends, saved Rome from an Etruscan attack. The events took place in the 6th century BC, after the last king of Ancient Rome was expelled from the city by citizens dissatisfied with his policies, violence and abuse of power. Without thinking twice, he turned to the Etruscan ruler Porsenus for help, who agreed to go to war with Rome and return the throne to the unfortunate king, about which he immediately sent a message to the young Republic. It said, in particular, that in a month the Etruscan warriors would approach Janiculum.

The bad news quickly spread throughout the outskirts of Rome. Residents from all sides came to defend the city, abandoning their crops and crafts. Everything was prepared to meet the enemy, but when they saw how a large army approached and almost instantly dealt with the fortifications erected on the Janiculum, many fled. At that moment, when the enemy hordes moved towards the Pile Bridge, there was a guard on it under the command of Horace, but the warriors did not wait for their death and fled. As a result, only Horace and his two brave comrades remained on the bridge. But it is unlikely that they could protect the city from enemies.

The decision came quickly to the legendary hero. He came out to meet the Etruscans, ordering the bridge to be destroyed behind him. Horace stood on Sublicio all alone, distracting the attention of bewildered strangers with his courage and daring cries that the Etruscan warriors were royal slaves and knew absolutely nothing about freedom! Why then did they come to take away someone else’s?

Horace Cocles destroys the Sublicio pile bridge

The Romans thanked their hero. He was able to see his own statue in the city square, and in times of famine he was never left without food, since everyone shared their supplies with him. In addition, Horace was allocated a plot of land of such size as he was able to cultivate.

New Bridge Sublicio

Work on the construction of the stone Ponte Sublicio began in 1914, a difficult year for the country, which coincided with the beginning of the First World War. The government was sorely short of funds, so construction was delayed. But in 1917 it was possible to allocate the necessary amount, as a result of which the bridge was completed in 1918.

From many architectural structures I find the bridge most pleasant and interesting (I’ve already talked about this). Of course, while walking around Rome, the local bridges over the Tiber also came into my field of vision. Of course, the Tiber is not a very wide river; the bridges there are quite simple and of the same type (arched without any special frills). Moreover, there are quite a lot of them (one feels that building there was not particularly problematic). Nevertheless, I still wanted to devote some time to this topic. Well, I’d like to start with a series of bridges, modern by Roman standards, located in the northern part of the historical center: Ponte Regina Margherita, Ponte Cavour and Ponte Umberto (as you know, “ponte” means “bridge”).

Ponte Regina Margherita or Queen Margaret's Bridge (Italian: Ponte Regina Margherita) is a bridge in Rome that connects Piazza Liberty in the Prati district and the Arnold of Brescia embankment in the Campo Marzio district. In my walks around Rome, this was the northernmost bridge that caught my eye - I didn’t climb further. And to be honest, I didn’t get to this bridge (I saw it from afar, although I was walking next to it in Piazza del Popolo). Nevertheless, I still want to say a few words.

The bridge was built in 1886-1891. under the direction of the architect Angelo Vescovali, who also designed the Umberto I Bridge (about which below). Named in honor of Margaret of Savoy, the first queen of a united Italy. The bridge connected the Prati area with Piazza del Popolo and became the first crossing over the Tiber, built after a break in construction that lasted several centuries. The Queen Margaret Bridge consists of three arches and reaches 103 meters in length and about 21 meters in width:

The next bridge to the south, if you move along the Tiber, is the Cavour Bridge (Italian: Ponte Cavour). It was erected on the site of the Ripeta Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Ripeta), which was dismantled to make room for the construction of a new bridge. Construction was carried out between 1891 and 1896 by the architect Angelo Vescovali and inaugurated in 1901. The bridge reaches 110 meters in length and 20 meters in width, consists of five arches:

Despite the curves of the Tiber, the Regina Margherita Bridge is clearly visible from the Cavour Bridge:

In appearance, this is an ordinary bridge, accessible both for vehicles (two lanes) and for pedestrians (sidewalks along the edges):

They write that the bridge has a very interesting and unusual tradition: New Year's diving. It began on January 1, 1946, after the Belgian Ric de Saunay jumped from the Cavour bridge into cold water, thus celebrating the onset of the New Year. When the man got out of the water, he made the OK sign to everyone present, for which they began to call him “Mr. OK.” It was this jump that became the beginning of a fun and long-standing tradition of the Romans. On January 1 every year, one or more divers make a New Year's dive into the Tiber to the cheerful cries of those watching:

The Cavour bridge connects the Prati embankment with Porta Ripetta with its church facades and domes:

By the way, the bridge received its name in honor of the first Prime Minister of Italy - Camillo Benso di Cavour, who played a huge role in the unification of Italy (the unification of Italy in the 19th century is a very interesting topic and a lot is devoted to it here). Count Cavour in 1852 headed the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom of Sardinia and actively took up foreign policy. He managed to strengthen the international prestige of the kingdom and get closer to France. But the further course of events forced Cavour to resign. In January 1860, King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia called on Cavour to lead the government again. Meanwhile, Lombardy, Emilia and a number of others Italian provinces expressed their willingness to become part of the kingdom. Venice remained with Austria, and France received Savoy and Nice. On March 4, 1861, Victor Emmanuel was proclaimed King of Italy. After this, Cavour spoke out in favor of making Rome the capital of the new state. He began to discuss this issue with the French, but soon fell ill and died. But in general, since his active participation, although it was not completed, was not disputed by anyone, so the idea of ​​naming the bridge after him was happily supported:

And the last bridge that I want to talk about in this post is Ponte Umberto or Umberto I Bridge (Italian: Ponte Umberto I) - a bridge over the Tiber that connects the Square of the Courts (Italian: Piazza dei Tribunali) and the Palace of Justice in the Prati district with the Piazza Umberto Bridge I (Italian: piazza di Ponte Umberto I) and the surrounding area of ​​Piazza Navona in the Ponte area:

Ponte Umberto or Umberto I Bridge (Italian: Ponte Umberto I) is a bridge over the Tiber in Rome, connecting the Square of the Courts (Italian: Piazza dei Tribunali) and the Palace of Justice in the Prati district with the Piazza di Ponte Umberto I (Italian: piazza di Ponte Umberto I) and the surrounding area of ​​Piazza Navona in the Ponte area.

The bridge consists of three arches and reaches 105 m in length and 20 m in width. It was built by the contractor Impreza Allegri and designed by the architect Angelo Vescovali. Construction continued for ten years from 1885 to 1895. The opening ceremony on September 22, 1895 was attended by King Umberto I, after whom the bridge was named, with his wife Margaret of Savoy. After the ceremony, the royal couple visited the Palace of Justice, the building of the Supreme Court of Cassation of Italy, which was then under construction next to the bridge. The Umberto I Bridge was conceived to facilitate access to the palace and as an aesthetic addition to it:

Unlike the Cavour Bridge, it uses a more modern surface and more intense traffic (although in general it must be said that all three bridges are very similar):

Well, when talking about Ponte Umberto, one cannot fail to mention the majestic Palace of Justice, located next door:

Actually, from the moto the façade of the building is clearly visible:

Palace of Justice in Rome (Italian: Palazzo di Giustizia) - seat of the Italian Court of Cassation and the Judicial Public library, located in the Prati area. The building overlooks Piazza dei Tribunali, Via Triboniano, Piazza Cavour and Via Ulpiano. The huge building received the nickname Palazaccio among the local population:

Designed by the Perugian architect Guglielmo Calderini and built between 1888 and 1910, the Palace of Justice is considered one of the most grandiose new buildings in Rome, erected after the proclamation of Rome as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. The foundation stone of the palace was laid on March 14, 1888 in the presence of Giuseppe Zanardelli, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Great Seal of the State, who insisted on the location of the Palace of Justice in the prestigious Prati district, where many court buildings had already been built.

Built in the late Renaissance and Baroque style, the building of the Palace of Justice measures 170 by 155 meters and is completely covered with Travertine limestone. The main façade of the building, facing the Tiber River, is topped by a huge bronze quadriga, installed there in 1926, by the sculptor Ettore Ximenes from Palermo. 10 large statues prominent lawyers decorate the ramps in front of the main façade and courtyard. The upper part of the facade, facing Piazza Cavour, is decorated with the bronze coat of arms of the Savoy dynasty:

Clickable panorama of the Palace of Justice and Piazza dei Tribunali:

Well, that’s all for now - but while talking about Rome, I plan to return to the topic of bridges over the Tiber!