Pons Aemilius, Stone arch bridge in Rome, Italy
Pons Aemilius is a stone arch bridge of which only a central arch remains standing isolated in the Tiber River. This ruin rises from the water as a remnant of the structure that once spanned the river in ancient Rome.
Construction began in 179 BC and finished in 142 BC, making it Rome's first stone bridge. Multiple renovations occurred over the centuries before partial demolition in 1887 left the structure in its current ruined state.
The bridge connected the Forum Boarium cattle market to the Trastevere district, serving as a vital trade route in ancient Rome. People crossed it daily to move goods and travel between different parts of the city.
You can view the remaining arch from the modern Ponte Palatino bridge or from walking paths along the Tiber riverbanks. The best views come from the northern riverside paths, where you can see the ruin from different angles.
The surviving arch earned the name Ponte Rotto, meaning broken bridge, a name that reflects the origins of this ruin. The fact that only this single arch remains from Rome's oldest stone bridge makes it a remarkable survival of ancient engineering.
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