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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Il Sole 24 Ore: better living in Italy of 2020

Every end of the year, Il Sole 24 Ore, an Italian national daily business newspaper owned by Confindustria, draws up a ranking of the most livable cities in Italy.

“Wealth and consumption”, “demography”, “health and jobs”, are some pf the parameters used in the yearly quest. Another big part that completely changed the order of this list, has been by the considering the effect of the 2020 pandemic.

On our article, we will be considering only the first six most livable Italian cities

  • Bologna

Bologna known as “La Dotta” (The Wise) is the town on top of the 2020 classifies. It is on the very first position for the best improvement on “culture and free time”, “business and jobs”, and the social spending on: home assistance and transportation for “elder and ill people, with an increase of 53.9%” [https://www.ilpost.it/2020/12/14/classifica-province-italia-2020/]

Bologna: the best town to live in 2020

Bologna, Parma at 8th, Forlì-Cesena 14th, Modena 15th, and Reggio are the five districts belonging to Emilia-Romagna region.

  • Bolzano

The second place is taken by Bolzano. This city is located in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, province of north Italy is a greater metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants and is one of the urban centers within the Alps. The Dolomites mountain town for the society and demography received the best score.

Bolzano 2nd position in 2020
  • Trento

“Environment and services”, “business and jobs”, “wealth and consumptions” lead this city on the third place. Trento is famous for the beauty of its landscape and the quality of its snow, it is a favorite destination for ski enthusiasts. Some of the most touristic spots are particularly Madonna di Campiglio, Canazei, Cavalese, and San Martino di Castrozza.

Trento 3rd position in 2020
  • Verona

“Romeo & Juliet” town receives is on the fourth place of the list for the good job on “environment and services” and “business and jobs.” The northern city belonging to Veneto region, has many touristic hot spots; such as: medieval old town built between the meandering Adige River. It’s also famous for a tiny balcony overlooking a courtyard is said be “Juliet’s House.”

Verona’s beauty in 2020
  • Trieste

Trieste is the capital city of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy. Always known as a port city, it occupies a very small strip of land between the Adriatic coast and Slovenia’s border. According to the quest, this city did very well on “business and jobs”, and “environment and services.”

Trieste: Piazza dell’ Unita’
  • Udine

“Justice and security” are the winning categories that takes the city of Udine at the sixth place.  Its Friulian culture, the European melting-pot of Italian, Austrian and Slovene influences, gives the city a unique ambience, best experienced in its cuisine. Udine it is known in the entire world for the: San Daniele prosciutto, and Bastianich wines.

Udine

ANTONIA L. MOSCA

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