Ponte Pietra (Verona)

The Ponte Pietra (Italian for "Stone Bridge") is a Roman arch bridge crossing the Adige River in Verona, Italy. The bridge was completed in 100 BC, and the Via Postumia from Genoa to Aquileia passed over it. It is the oldest bridge in Verona.^[1]

Ponte Pietra (Pons Lapideus)
The arch at the far left is the only one which escaped destruction in 1945.
Coordinates	45.4477°N 10.9999°E / 45.4477; 10.9999
Crosses	Adige River
Locale	Verona, Italy
Characteristics
Design	Arch bridge
Material	Travertine, brick
Total length	120 m
No. of spans	5
History
Construction end	100 BC 1957
Closed	April 1945 (4 of 5 spans destroyed)
Location

It originally flanked another Roman bridge, the Pons Postumius (called Pons Marmoreus and at Middle Ages was called Fractus - broken, now remain some fragments); both structures provided the city (on the right bank) with access to the Roman theatre on the east bank. The arch nearest to the right bank of the Adige was rebuilt in 1298 by Alberto I della Scala. Four arches of the bridge were blown up by retreating German troops in World War II, but rebuilt in 1957 with original materials.

See also

• List of Roman bridges
• Roman architecture
• Roman engineering