Description of the attraction
Ponte Pietra, which means "stone bridge" in Italian, is an arched bridge that connects the banks of the Adige River. It was built at the end of the 1st century BC. across the ford and originally bore the name Pon Marmoreus. Later, as a result of numerous renovations due to floods and earthquakes, it got its current name. Once upon a time, the famous Postumiev road passed along it, leading from Genoa to the Brenner Pass in the Alps. In ancient Roman times, a similar bridge was built nearby - Ponte Postumio, which, together with Ponte Pietra, framed the ancient Roman Theater. On its stage, the majestic Navajo - "sea battles" unfolded. In 1298, by order of Alberto I della Scala, the span closest to the right bank of the Adige was rebuilt. The total length of the bridge is 95 meters, the width is about 4 meters. On the right bank, it rests against a watchtower.
At the end of World War II, the five-span Ponte Pietra, like other bridges in Verona, was blown up by retreating German troops, and only in 1959 it was restored, lifting the original fragments from the bottom of the river. Of course, it was not possible to find all the components, so various materials were used for the reconstruction - in addition to white marble, red brick was used, which made the building especially picturesque. Ponte Pietra was once the first stone bridge in Verona, and today it is the only Roman bridge left in the city.
