Filled with infinite beauty, the city of Rome is never short of things to see. Between its amazing historical buildings such as the Colosseum or the Pantheon, monuments like the Trevi Fountain, and beautiful art, the Eternal City of Rome never fails to leave us stunned. One of the most beautiful things about this city though is that pretty much every corner you turn has a hidden gem to discover! One of these hidden gems is Ponte Nomentano, a Roman bridge that dates back to the Middle Ages and that was used to protect the entrance of Rome from invaders coming from the north.
Let’s find out something more about Ponte Nomentano in Rome, its history and why you should add it to your list of things to see in the Eternal City!
The Rich History of Ponte Nomentano and Its Ancient Significance
Back in Ancient Rome, Ponte Nomentano was located outside the city walls, more precisely outside the Aurelian Wall, near Porta Nomentana. During the Gothic War in 547 AD, the Nomentano Bridge was partially destroyed by the Ostrogoths but it was later rebuilt by Narses, a Roman general. The structure of this bridge almost looks like a castle tower and this is because Pope Nicholas V had the bridge partially repaired and redesigned in 1461, 1470 and 1474 and wanted to give a more imposing image to this bridge.
Past and Present: Ponte Nomentano’s Evolution Through the Centuries
Throughout the centuries, the bridge underwent many restorations and repairs due to unfortunate war events. For instance, in 1849, the French troops destroyed the bridge by lowering it down by 7m to prevent Garibaldi from entering Rome but everything was restored as soon as possible.
Nowadays the bridge is located in a big park in Rome, in a pedestrian-only area and it presents itself as a tall 31,30 meter-long, imposing bridge. As previously mentioned, even though the bridge underwent much restoration work, it still presents itself as a medieval construction, with a 15-meter central arch and stonework made in travertine style.
Back in the day, the Nomentano Bridge used to be a fortress but it was also a fundamental element for the transit of livestock. If you pay close attention to the keystone of its arch, you may be able to see the symbol of Hercules, known as the protector of livestock!
Conclusion
If you enjoy spending time surrounded by nature and exploring the beauties of ancient Rome, visiting Ponte Nomentano is something that will surely not leave you disappointed. Feeling like a journey back in time, Ponte Nomentano will give you a fascinating experience towards the exploration of what life used to be like in ancient Rome. If you want to get to know more about the Eternal City of Rome and Italy in general, you should check out our other blogs and, if you want to get the best experience when it comes to exploring the remains of ancient Rome, we strongly recommend you to book our Ancient Rome Day Tour.
