Pont-Saint-Martin, Aosta Valley, Italian comune
Pont-Saint-Martin is a small commune at the entrance to the Aosta Valley from Piedmont, known for its famous Roman bridge made of large stones spanning the Lys River. The town has old buildings, a small main square, and is surrounded by green hills and forests.
The town was founded by the Romans, who built a large stone arch bridge there over 2000 years ago, which survives to this day. In the 11th century a fortress was built, and the place served long as an important passage between northern Italy and the valley, until it was heavily damaged during a bombing in World War II in 1944.
The town's name comes from the Roman bridge and its importance to the community. The Church of Saint Martin shapes the town's character, and people keep traditions alive through annual carnival celebrations that tell local legends about devils and river nymphs.
The town is easy to reach by bus, which connects to Aosta, and the train station is currently closed. The place is small and good for walking, and many paths lead to nearby hiking trails through forests and along the river.
The Roman bridge was built with only one large stone arch, which is rare among ancient bridges and makes its construction special. Local legends tell that a devil built the bridge and a river nymph almost destroyed the village but spared it.
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