Enchanting Italian bridges

The entire Italy offers a variety of spectacular bridges. Special connection that especially in Medieval times allowed the mass, merchants, soldiers, kings to move easily from one side to another of the Italian peninsula.

Let’s buckle up our seat belts on and let virtually take a tour to these amazing bridges!

Ponte Gervasio Gorge, Claviere

The Claviere Bridge is longer than 500 meters. Starts from Turin to few steps away from the France border.

It’s definitely tight, only one person at the time, and once you decide to walk through this special passage, you can clearly see the wild nature of St. Gervasio gorge underneath your feet between its chains.

This bridge was built in 2006 by the European Union and it is considered the longest suspended bridge in the world.

Gervasio Gorge

Ponte Castelvecchio, Verona

The Castel Vecchio Bridge or known also as Scaliger Bridge is a fortified bridge in Verona, northern Italy, over the Adige River.

It was built around 1350, but then completely destroyed during the end on the 2nd World War. Even though, around 1950 the architect Libero Cecchini reconstructed it, it is considered one of the most beautiful, most medieval, most arched bridge of all.

Fortress and bridge of old town of Verona city.

Ponte Saint Martin, Valle d’Aosta

The Pont-Saint-Martin is a Roman segmental arch bridge in the Aosta Valley in Italy dating to the 1st century BC.

Legend says that the bridge was built by the devil, and deceived by San Martino.

Pont-Saint-Martin, was named after the Saint-Martin lords from the Bard dynasty, later successors were the Savoy household. It is a great place to visit full of history, nature, and amazing view of the old center.

Ancient roman bridge over torrent Lys in Pont Saint Martin, Italy

Ponte di Gaiola, Napoli

It is a special bridge which connects the land of Naples to the tiny Gaiola island.

The island is at the Underwater Park of Gaiola, a protected marine reserve.

This area features snorkeling along with boat tours of above and below sea level of Roman ruins.

Passing through this bridge will give you the option to see the Gulf of Naples with its so unique skyline made of sea, island, lands, and Mount Vesuvius.

Gaiola island and ancient Roman ruins, Gulf of Naples, Italy

Ponte Vecchio, Firenze

One of the most well-known tourist destinations.

Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, was the only bridge across the Arno River in Florence until 1218. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345, also, it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy.

There have been shops on Ponte Vecchio since the 13th century. Initially, there were all types of shops, such as: butchers and fishmongers, then in 1593, King Ferdinand I decreed those only goldsmiths and jeweler be allowed to have their shops on the bridge.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Ponte di Rialto, Venezia

Hot spot for travelers of all around the world.

The Rialto bridge was built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. It was called also Ponte della Moneta, presumably because of custom duty had been covered near its entrance.

This bridge was rebuilt many times, because many times collapsed. The present stone bridge, the one known all around the world, is a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte, was constructed in 1588 and was completed in 1591.

Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

Ponte Sant’Angelo, Roma

One of the oldest Italian bridges that you will find in Rome, Italy.

It was completed in 134 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus), to span the Tiber from the city center to his newly constructed mausoleum, now the towering Castel Sant’Angelo.

This bridge took place after mad emperor Nero burnt the city down. Pilgrims, then were forced to use this bridge to reach St Peter’s Basilica, hence it was known also with the name of “bridge of Saint Peter.”

The bridge now, it’s exclusively a pedestrian area and it offers a scenic view of the enchanting Castel Sant’Angelo.

Sant’ Angelo bridge, Rome, Italy

Ponte di Tiberio, Rimini

It is known also as or Bridge of Augustus, it is a Roman bridge in Rimini, Italy. It features five beautiful semicircular arches.

This construction took some time, because it started under emperor Augustus, and it was completed with emperor Tiberius’ jurisdiction. Also, this amazing stone architecture was destroyed by German during World War II.

However, it was fixed and now pedestrian and cars cand drive through it.

Tiberio bridge, Rimini Italy

Ponte della Maddalena, Lucca

One of the numerous medieval bridges. It is known also as the “Bridge of the Devil.”

However, Ponte della Maddalena takes its name after Mary Magdalene.

In fact, a statue stands at the bottom of the bridge. This, was a medieval route taken especially by merchant, soldiers, and pilgrim who intended to pay a visit to Rome, or to go up north to France. It is highly possible that its construction was commissioned by the Countess Matilda of Tuscany c. 1080-1100.

Magdalene bridge, Lucca, Italy

Ponte dell’Ammiraglio, Palermo

It was completed in 1131, a year after the coronation of Roger II as first King of Sicily.

According to a legend, the bridge is situated in the place where the Archangel Michael appeared to the Norman Count Roger I of Sicily helping him to conquer Palermo, at that time of the Islamic.

Thanks to its strategic position, on 27 May 1860, the bridge was the place of a famous battle between the Red Shirts of Giuseppe Garibaldi and the army of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies during the Expedition of the Thousand.

The Admiral bridge keeps the pride to have witnessed many phases of the Italian history. In 2015 was it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Admiral bridge, Palermo, Italy

ALM

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Top six Italian Semifreddo

Summer is the season well known for going to the beach, pool, and mostly spending time outdoors. However, since we are for now living in a “social distancing” world, we need to be extra cautious about who we meet and how to interact with people. A great alternative to this antisocial year, is to enjoy life in your own home and… Concentrating on eating…

Buffet of sweets

Hot weather can make us opt for refreshing foods like: ice-cream, frozen yogurt, smoothie, or the king of the summer: watermelon! Well, besides all these very tasty ideas, here it comes another suggestion spelled out in one name: “Semifreddo.”

“Semifreddo” is an Italian that literally means “Semi-frozen.” This is not an ice-cream, and not even a dessert. It is a kind of hybrid placed in half way, and that can be enjoyed for the entire 365 days of the year.

Guess what? After few researches, I discovered that Italy is the “Semifreddo” homeland, of course influenced by many European countries. Let me introduce you some of the best six Italian semifreddo:

#1 PROFITEROLES

In the US are called “Cream puffs.” This rounded shell can be filled with custard, hazelnut, chocolate, or whipped cream. The invention starts around 1540 at Caterina de ‘Medici’s court in Florence. Her trusted chef Popelini created this sublime dough to celebrate the Italian noblewoman wedding to Henry II of France. This special union between Italy and France, originates profiteroles, which will be spread outside the two countries and being widely appreciated around the XVII Century.

Chocolate Profiteroles

#2 TIRAMISU’

This is the coffee lover semifreddo dessert. It is not baked cake made with ladyfingers dipped in a mixture of espresso and liqueur, then layered on a creamy, sweet, and delicious mixture of mascarpone, eggs, and coffee flavor.

Tiramisu’

 The word Tiramisù comes from the Treviso dialect, “Tireme su”, it literally means “Pick me up”. This semifreddo was originated in the Northern part of Italy, Treviso in 1800. According to few sources, this dessert was invented by a clever “maitresse” of a red-light district in the center of Treviso. Considered as: “Aphrodisiac dessert to offer to customers at the end of the evening in order to reinvigorate their conjugal duties” (https://www.accademiadeltiramisu.com/en/the-origin-of-tiramisu-fact-and-legend/)

#3 DELIZIA AL LIMONE

In English stands for “Lemon delight” and it comes from the main lemon-land based in Sorrento, Napoli. This delicious lemon semifreddo pastry is made of sponge cake immersed by limoncello syrup flavor; then,  filled and covered with lemon cream.

In the pastries you can find the family or single portion; in this last case you can notice the resemblance with a human breast, because it has a semicircular shape with a wild strawberry on top.

The delizia al limone was conceived back in 1978 by a Sorrento confectioner: Carmine Marzuillo, whom especially for this amazing sweet creation, in 2005 was even awarded of the title “Cavaliere.”

#4 PANNA COTTA

It is “Cooked cream” is an Italian dessert of sweetened cream that can take coffee, vanilla, strawberry, or more exotic flavors, such as kiwi or mango. Opposing, are the origins of panna cotta. Some consider it as a traditional Piemonte dessert made on 1900 for the first time, and cooked by a Hungarian woman from Langhe. On the contrary, North European books, assign panna cotta to be originated in Medieval times. We will probably never know the truth, meanwhile, let’s taste this delicious sweet treat.

Panna Cotta

#5 AFFOGATO AL CAFFE’

The translation is “Drowned in the coffee flavor”. It is another Italian coffee-based dessert, and it has the form of a scoop of vanilla gelato “Drowned” with a shot of hot espresso. However, there are also alternative versions that include: coconut, cherries, and honeycomb,

Affogato al caffe’ @ Eataly

#6 VIENNETTA

The Viennetta is our last sweet semifreddo based on vanilla ice-cream and tiny dark chocolate flakes, with a unique wavy shape. Using the technique borrowed by the British Kevin Hillman, this dessert was introduced in 1982 by the historical Italian ice-cream brand “Algida.” It is available in many flavors, such as: chocolate, vanilla, Crème brûlée, choco-nut, eggnog, cappuccino, and tiramisu’.

Antonia L. Mosca

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