L' Ephémère In Roma

An attractive bridge in Rome, the capital of Italy. Also beautiful at night. Great atmosphere. It connects the Tiber Island with the city. A pleasant walk along it. In beautiful weather, nice views of the river and the city. A perfect place to meet friends. An intriguing story. I recommend!

Ponte Cestio, also known as pons Aurelius, pons Gratiani, San Bartolomeo bridge or Ferrato bridge, is a bridge in Rome over the Tiber river, a nineteenth-century reconstruction of the Roman bridge of the same name. It is one of the two bridges in the capital that does not directly connect the opposite banks of the river: like the neighboring Fabricio bridge, in fact, it connects the Tiber Island with one of the two banks, in this case the right one, at the height of Lungotevere degli Anguillara, near Piazza in Piscinula, in Trastevere. The bridge was built by Lucius Cestius in 46 or 44 BC, symmetrically to the Fabricius bridge. It underwent a first restoration in 152, under Antoninus Pius, and an inscription commemorating this restoration was placed on the parapet of the bridge, but it was completely rebuilt in 365 with reused materials, also coming from the nearby Theater of Marcellus, by the emperors Valentinian I, Valens and Graziano; In 370 he dedicated the latter to himself by inserting an inscription in Proconnesian marble in the upstream abutment and thus giving the bridge the new name of Pons Gratiani. The bridge was covered with travertine slabs. Another restoration, documented by an epigraph placed next to Gratian's epigraph, took place in 1191-93 by Benedetto Carushomo, senator of Rome in 1191. Other interventions took place in the 15th century under Eugene IV and in the 17th century under Innocent XI. From the 15th century it took the name of "San Bartolomeo bridge" from the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all'Isola. The bridge was seriously damaged during the siege of Rome in 1849: in particular, a second epigraph by Gratian present on the parapet downstream of the bridge was lost. In the 18th and 19th centuries it also had the name of Ponte Ferrato, due to the numerous chains that anchored the mills on the river. Due to the widening of the right bank of the Tiber near the island to 70 metres, the bridge was demolished in 1885 and rebuilt in 1889. Initially it was thought to save the central arch by widening the two lateral ones, going from 48 meters of the Roman bridge to 76 of the new bridge, but for technical reasons it was decided to completely demolish it. The stone covering material was partially recovered, but only a part of this (347 slabs) was reassembled on the central arch. The inscription on the Roman bridge relating to the restoration of 370 AD. by the emperors Valentinian I, Valens and Gratian, it was reinserted on the right abutment of the modern bridge. The new bridge is covered in travertine slabs, apart from the underarches which are covered in peperino di Albano. Ponte Cestio was restored like the nearby Fabricio bridge on the occasion of the Jubilee of 2000.

One of the oldest bridges in Rome, with an interesting history.

Entrance bridge to Trastevere with beautiful views.

Gateway to Trastevere from Isola Tiberina. Another amazing bridge in Rome. Well preserved and accessible to vehicles. It has great scenery as well as amazing view of the river of which the island cuts it in half.

The prices are great in this store

As I stroll across the Tiber, I feel the gentle breeze blowing from the river and hear the splashing of the water lapping against the stones of the banks. I soon see the Ponte Cestio, which spans elegantly over the river. This bridge connects the island of Tiberina with the Trastevere district and acts as a living link between the past and the present. The Ponte Cestio was originally built in the 1st century BC. Built in 200 BC and has an eventful history behind it. I stand in the middle of the bridge and look over the water. The light is reflected in the river and paints vivid patterns on the stone surface. The original building was renovated and expanded several times over the centuries. What can be seen today is the result of an extensive restoration in the 19th century. I can vividly imagine how this bridge was once crossed by Romans rushing back and forth - traders with goods, pilgrims on their way to holy sites and perhaps even poets crossing the bridge inspired by the beauty of the Tiber. The thought of it gives me a feeling of connection to the history that hangs in the air here. Here on the bridge there are not only stones, but also the stories of the people who used them. At one end of the bridge I spot the two statues of San Giovanni and San Paolo, rising into the sky and reminding passers-by of the long tradition of faith in this city. I walk closer, touch the cool stones and feel how time seems to stand still here. From here I also have a fantastic view of Isola Tiberina, the picturesque island that lies in the Tiber. The island has its own history that dates back to ancient times. It is said that it was built in the shape of a ship to commemorate the voyage of Aeneas. As I think about this, I see people walking on the island, picnicking or just enjoying the view. It is a popular place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. I notice that there are a few other visitors standing on the bridge, enjoying the view and taking photos. A couple kisses while the ancient Ponte Cestio towers majestically over the Tiber in the background. A little boy watches intently as a boat sails along the river, and his excitement is contagious. I let my gaze wander over the river and am filled with the beauty of this city, which combines history and modern life in such a harmonious harmony. The Ponte Cestio is not only a connection between two banks, but also between times. It is a living witness to the countless stories that shape Rome in all its facets. With a final look at the bridge and the surrounding area, I continue my walk, enriched by the history I have found here and the impressions I can take with me. Rome is full of such treasures - small, unassuming places, infused with time and stories, waiting to be discovered. As of: May 16, 2018 *The tragedy of existence is often that you have your hand full of aces and life is playing chess.*