Verona’s oldest bridge has a history that plays out like a Hollywood blockbuster. It was built by the Romans back in 100 BC in order to provide easy access to and from the city’s amphitheatre. Exhilarated by the many savage events held in the arena, thousands would spill across the bridge without thought, requiring it to hold unprecedented weights for the time.
Yet somehow it survived centuries of such use before seeing a partial collapse in 1298, requiring the speedy rebuilding of an arch in order to prevent a loss in trade for the city. Many more centuries passed before the bridge would face its biggest challenge: World War II. As the Germans retreated they dropped enormously strong explosives upon the city, and one such bomb destroyed four of the bridge’s arches. After standing for more than two millennia the bridge was finally closed, but rose again shortly after thanks to a dramatic rebuild using original materials.
Today, the bridge is one of Verona’s top attractions drawing thousands of visitor’s intent on striding across the ancient span of Verona’s oldest bridge.
