Ponte Milvio

Coordinates: 41°56′08″N 12°28′01″E / 41.93556°N 12.46694°E / 41.93556; 12.46694
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Milvian Bridge
)
Ponte Milvio

Pons Milvius (
Latin)
Ponte Milvio over the Tiber
Coordinates41°56′08″N 12°28′01″E / 41.93556°N 12.46694°E / 41.93556; 12.46694
CrossesTiber
LocaleRome, Italy
Other name(s)Milvian Bridge, Mulvian Bridge
Pons Mulvius
Ponte Molle
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialStone, brick
Total length136 m
Width8.75 m
Longest span18.55 m
No. of spans6
History
Construction end109 BC (stone bridge)
Location
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view

The Milvian (or Mulvian) Bridge (

Latin: Pons Milvius or Pons Mulvius) is a bridge over the Tiber in northern Rome, Italy. It was an economically and strategically important bridge in the era of the Roman Empire and was the site of the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD, which led to the imperial rule of Constantine
.

Early history

18th-century engraving by Piranesi
Pathway over the Milvian bridge

A bridge was built by

Constantine I defeated his stronger rival Maxentius between this bridge and Saxa Rubra, in the famous Battle of the Milvian Bridge
.

During the Middle Ages, the bridge was renovated by a monk named Acuzio, and in 1429 Pope Martin V asked a famous architect, Francesco da Genazzano, to repair it because it was collapsing. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the bridge was modified by two architects, Giuseppe Valadier and Domenico Pigiani.

The bridge was badly damaged in 1849 by

Pius IX
in 1850.

In January 1873 the novelist Henry James, an unlikely yet adequate horseman, made the Ponte Milvio the first of many Roman destinations on horseback. He commented “I can stick on a horse better than I supposed.”[2]

Problems

Love padlocks on the bridge

Love locks

Following the release of the popular book and movie "I Want You" (Ho voglia di te 2006) by author

padlocks to a lamppost on the bridge. After attaching the lock, they throw the key behind them into the Tiber.[3] However, after the lamppost partially collapsed in 2007 because of the weight of the padlocks, all parts of the bridge including its balustrades, railings and garbage bins were used. It has continued despite Rome's city council introducing a €50 fine for anyone found attaching locks to the bridge. In 2012 city authorities removed all locks from the bridge.[4]
The love lock tradition has since spread around Italy, the rest of Europe and across the globe.

Football violence

The bridge is known as a place where Italian

S.S.Lazio, the A.S. Roma fans tend to avoid the area, as it is where Lazio Ultras usually gather.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ De viris illustribus, 72 read in line
  2. ^ The Life of Henry James. Leon Edel, Peregrine Books edition, 1973. Vol 1. Chap 48 “Roman rides”. P.349.
  3. New York Times
    . August 5, 2007.
  4. ^ "Rome's Ponte Milvio bridge: 'Padlocks of love' removed". BBC News. September 10, 2012.
  5. ^ "Roma v Liverpool: Roma's passionate support blighted by a violent minority". BBC News. May 1, 2018.

Sources

  • O’Connor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, pp. 64f,
    ISBN 0-521-39326-4

External links

Media related to Ponte Milvio at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
Pons Fabricius 		Landmarks of Rome
Ponte Milvio 		Succeeded by
Ponte Sant'Angelo
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