L' Ephémère In Roma

Crossing the Tiber towards Trastevere

Cestius Bridge: A Corner of History in the Heart of Rome During my stroll through Rome, I was fortunate enough to cross the Cestius Bridge and was truly impressed. Walking across this historic bridge, which connects Tiber Island to the Trastevere district, was like stepping back in time. The current structure dates back to the 19th century, but the bridge has much older origins, dating back to 46 BC. It's incredible to think how many generations of Romans have crossed it! As I walked across its three arches, I admired the Tiber River flowing gently beneath me and the splendid view of Tiber Island. What struck me most was the atmosphere: even with cars and motorbikes passing by, you can still enjoy the walk. I chose to visit in the late afternoon, when the sunlight illuminated the bridge and the river, and everything seemed suspended in time. Strolling toward Trastevere, I appreciated how the bridge is a perfect starting point for exploring the neighborhood's narrow streets, filled with quaint restaurants and authentic Roman life. In short, crossing the Ponte Cestio was an experience I highly recommend to anyone visiting Rome. It's more than just a bridge: it's history, architecture, and beauty all in one place.

Visiting the Ponte Cestio, in the heart of Trastevere, was for me an experience both intimate and captivating, as if this ancient bridge could tell stories that only those who truly pause to listen can perceive. As soon as I approached, I immediately felt a special connection to this place, because here, architecture and time seem to merge in one breath. The Ponte Cestio connects Tiber Island to the Trastevere neighborhood, but it's more than just a passageway between two banks: it's a living fragment of Rome, a work of art that has seen centuries of history flow beneath it, preserving memories of distant eras. Walking on its ancient stones, I felt a special emotion, almost as if time had decided to stand still to make room for eternity. Its structure, with its arches reflected in the water, has a beauty that doesn't try to impose itself but rather wins you over little by little, step after step. Every detail speaks of the ingenuity and passion of the men who built and restored it over the centuries, preserving its authentic and intact soul. As I crossed it, I was transported by the sensation of walking in balance between past and present, observing up close the time-worn stones that still seem to whisper the stories of those who, over the centuries, have passed through here. There is something profoundly poetic in gazing at the lines of its arches diving into the Tiber, almost embracing it, and in perceiving the solidity of a construction that continues to live, to breathe, to connect people and places for centuries. What struck me most is the contrast between the simplicity of its architecture and the grandeur of its history: it is not a bridge that seeks to dazzle with ornamentation or decoration, but a work that speaks with its essentiality, with its discreet yet unforgettable presence. Despite the hustle and bustle of those who cross it every day, the Ponte Cestio maintains an intimate solemnity, as if jealously guarding its long life and the profound connection between Trastevere and Tiber Island. It's a place that invites you to slow down, to pause for a moment, to breathe in its unique atmosphere and let yourself be carried away by that sense of continuity that Rome can offer like no other city. I recommend everyone to come here and take the time to experience it, to listen to it, to feel part of something eternal, because the Ponte Cestio is not just a connection between two banks, it is a bridge between eras, between stories and people, an authentic fragment of Rome's soul that stays with you, and so I recommend it with all my heart!

Ponte Cestio connects Tiber Island to the historic Rione Trastevere. Probably built around 46 BC by Lucio Cestio, left by Caesar to govern Rome during the Spanish war, it is almost contemporary with Ponte Fabricio, which links the island with the opposite bank of the Tiber and the Rione Sant'Angelo.Over the centuries, the bridge, almost certainly in stone, underwent numerous restorations and renovations due to the continuous damage caused by the river current. In 365, it was restored by the emperors Valentiniano, Valente and Graziano, in the shape of a large arch flanked by two smaller arches.The continuous structural interventions also caused changes in its name: in 370 AD, it was called "di Graziano", from the name of the homonymous emperor, as remembered by the inscription inserted in the parapet upstream; later, it also took the name of "San Bartolomeo", from the nearby church, the main one on the island. Then, it was called "ferrato", due to the numerous iron chains necessary to anchor to the bank the hanging grindstones placed above the joined barges. This technique became necessary to guarantee the supply of flour to Rome after Vitige cut the aqueducts that fed the mills on the Tiber in 537. Although the bridge underwent considerable damages during the French invasion of 1849, it kept its appearance almost unchanged. Only in 1899, for the construction of the new walls of the Tiber, it was necessary to enlarge the riverbed, with the consequent dismantlement of the structure and the covering. In 1892, as evidenced by the inscription on the marble parapets, the bridge was rebuilt with three large arches covered with the original travertine, and officially named Ponte Cestio.

A fantastic place in summer... Right down by the Tiber, one bar/restaurant after another... Also lots of little stalls with all sorts of knick-knacks... We loved ending our evenings there.

It has its charm entering Trasteverre

A beautiful bridge from the imperial era, beneath which during the summer you can enjoy the Lungotevere Roma event. Top!

A beautiful bridge from the Imperial era. Parking was found right in the city center. Thanks to Rome's traffic police who maintain order and discipline throughout the area.

The view from the bridge at sunset is beautiful. You can see the Vatican dome amid the orange and light blue colors of the sky. A cheerful summer atmosphere.

One of Rome's beautiful historic bridges. Visit it while walking between them!