The Tiber River that flows through Rome may not be as legendary as more famous European rivers like the Seine, the Danube or the Thames, yet there are a number of beautiful bridges to see. An additional attraction is the Isola Tiberina, a small island in the middle of the Tiber, between the historical center and the Trastevere district.
Bridges Rome
Curiosities
Rome’s most famous bridges are the Ponte Sant’Angelo, the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele, the Ponte Milvio and the Ponte Sisto, along with a bridge of which only half remains, and the Ponte Rotto , or the “Broken Bridge.”
The very oldest bridge in Rome no longer exists. This Ponte Sublicio, like all early bridges over the Tiber, was made of wood so that it could be easily dismantled when Rome was attacked. Incidentally, a bridge of the same name was built on the same spot in 1918.
Most important bridges in Rome
Ponte Sant’Angelo
The Ponte Sant’Angelo was built by Emperor Adrian, who wanted to be able to reach his own mausoleum (the current Castel Sant’Angelo). The architekt Demetrian did his job so well that throughout history the bridge was never destroyed or even damaged, despite the many floods of the Tiber.
Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
The Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge was built when people wanted to create a better connection between the historic center of Rome and the Vatican. The Ponte Sant’Angelo, which already existed, could no longer handle the increase in population in the Prati district after Rome became the capital of the new state of Italy. It connects the rione Ponte with the rione Borgo.
Ponte Cestio and Ponte Fabricio
The Ponte Cestio is among the oldest bridges in Rome and connects the Lungotevere degli Anguillara (Trastevere) with the Piazza di San Bartolomeo all’Isola on the Isola Tiberina in the Ripa district. It was built at the same time as the Ponte Fabricius, which connects the island with the other bank of the Tiber. Ponte Fabricius is also called Ponte dei Quattro Capi.
Ponte Garibaldi
The Ponte Garibaldi is a bridge that most tourists in Rome will cross at least once during their stay in the Eternal City, as it connects the Lungotevere De’ Cenci (in the central district of Regola) with the Piazza Giuseppe Gioachino Belli in Trastevere, the city’s premier entertainment district.
Ponte Sisto
The Ponte Sisto is one of the most famous bridges in Rome, which is mainly because you can see it from the Ponte Garibaldi. The Ponte Sisto was built in the 15th century on the site of an earlier bridge, which, however, was destroyed in the 8th century. The bridge is characterized by the central oculus.
Ponte Rotto
The Ponte Rotto (“Broken Bridge” or “Broken Bridge”) in Rome is the modern name of what was the Ponte Trionfale in Roman antiquity. It was the first bridge made of stone in Rome and has been known by many names over the centuries.
Ponte Milvio
The Ponte Milvio lies outside the city center and suddenly became famous a few years ago when the bridge starred in an Italian movie and sparked a romantic craze as a result. What is not so well known about the Ponte Milvio is that the bridge played a crucial role in world history.
Ponte Palatino
The Ponte Palatino owes its nickname “English Bridge” to the fact that, from an Italian point of view, the traffic goes in the wrong direction. It was built towards the end of the 19th century, when the Ponte Rotto became very Rotto.
Ponte della Musica
The Ponte della Musica was inaugurated on April 21, 2011 and for a year was the newest bridge in Rome. It is named after the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
Ponte Ostiense
Located right by the Garbatella metro station, Ponte Ostiense has been Rome’s newest bridge since 2012.
Ponte del Risorgimento
Built to mark the 50th anniversary of the unification of Italy, the Ponte del Risorgimento was the first bridge in the country to be made of reinforced concrete.
Ponte Castel Giubileo
When entering Rome by boat from the north, the Ponte Castel Giubileo is the first bridge encountered.
More Rome bridges
Confluenza del fiume Aniene nel Tevere, Ponte di Tor di Quinto, Ponte Flaminio, Ponte Nomentano, Ponte Duca d’Aosta, Ponte Matteotti, Ponte Nenni, Ponte Regina Margherita, Ponte Cavour, Ponte Umberto I, Ponte Principe Amedeo, Ponte Mazzini, Ponte San Bartolomeo, Ponte Aventino, Ponte Testaccio, Ponte dell’Industria, Ponte Marconi, Ponte della Magliana em de Pons Sublicius.