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Visit Rome following 8 XVIIIth century itineraries XVIIIth century Rome in the 10 Books of Giuseppe Vasi - Le Magnificenze di Roma Antica e Moderna The Grand View of Rome by G. Vasi The Environs of Rome: Frascati, Tivoli, Albano and other small towns near Rome A 1781 map of Rome by G. Vasi An 1852 map of Rome by P. Letarouilly Rome seen by a 1905 armchair traveller in the paintings by Alberto Pisa The 14 historical districts of Rome An abridged history of Rome How to spend a peaceful day in Rome Baroque sculptors and their works The coats of arms of the popes in the monuments of Rome Pages on a specific pope Pages complementing the itineraries and the views by Giuseppe Vasi Walks in the Roman countryside and in other towns of Latium following Ferdinand Gregorovius A Directory of links to the Churches of Rome A Directory of links to the Palaces and Villas of Rome A Directory of links to the Other Monuments of Rome A Directory of Baroque Architects with links to their works A Directory of links to Monuments of Ancient Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Medieval Rome A Directory of links to Monuments of Renaissance A Directory of links to Monuments of the Late Renaissance A list of the most noteworthy Roman Families Directories of fountains, obelisks, museums, etc. Books and guides used for developing this web site An illustrated Glossary of Art Terms Venice and the Levant Roman recollections in Florence A list of Italian towns shown in this web site Venetian Fortresses in Greece Vienna seen by an Italian XVIIIth century traveller A list of foreign towns shown in this web site
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All images © by Roberto Piperno, owner of the domain. Write to romapip@quipo.it. Text edited by Rosamie Moore.
Page revised in July 2009.

To the Italian visitors of my web site

Ponte Rotto (Book 5) (Map C3) (Day 5) and (Day 6) (View C9) (Rione Ripa) and (Rione Trastevere)

In this plate:
The plate by Giuseppe Vasi
Today's view (S. Salvatore a Ponte Rotto)
Ponte Rotto

The Plate (No. 94 - ii)

Ponte Rotto


Ponte Rotto means broken bridge and the plate shows the remaining three arches of an ancient Roman bridge which was poorly repaired in the XVIth century; in the background of the plate one can see a view of the Aventine, the only historical hill of Rome which is touched by the river.
The view is taken from the green dot in the small 1748 map here below. In the description below the plate Vasi made reference to: 1) S. Sabina ; 2) S. Alessio ; 3) S. Salvatore in Trastevere; 4) Fenili (haylofts); 5) Mill. 1) and 2) are shown in detail in other pages.

Small ViewSmall View

Today

Ponte Rotto
The view in July 2009; in the upper left corner S. Sabina and S. Alessio; in the lower right corner the tip of Isola Tiberina

Only one arch of the broken bridge is left. The enlargement of the river bed in the late XIXth century led to pulling down the other two arches and some of the buildings of Trastevere which were near the bridge, including the small church of S. Salvatore. Ponte Palatino is the name of the modern bridge built behind Ponte Rotto in 1886-90.

Ponte Rotto

Ponte Rotto
View of the remaining arch: when the river is very low one can see its ancient Roman foundations

The bridge was initially built in the IInd century BC and it was named after Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who is best known for having promoted the construction of Via Aemilia from Rimini to Piacenza. Through the centuries the bridge required many repairs, but it was still standing in the XVIth century until in 1557 a flood brought down two arches. Discussions on how to repair the bridge went on for years and Luca Peto, a member of the commission appointed to make recommendations, suggested rebuilding the bridge with a lower number of arches in order to allow an easier flow of the water. Instead the bridge was rebuilt in 1575 upon the ancient foundations.

Ponte Rotto
Heraldic symbol (left) and coat of arms (right) of Pope Gregory XIII; (inset) tablet near S. Spirito in Sassia indicating the level of the Tiber on Christmas Night 1598

The bridge was embellished with heraldic symbols and coats of arms, but these did not prevent the arches towards the Aventine from collapsing on Christmas Night 1598.

Ponte Rotto on December 12, 2008
View of the remaining arch in December 2008 (seen from Ponte Palatino)

Learn more about the Tiber floods.

Excerpts from Giuseppe Vasi 1761 Itinerary related to this page:


Rovine del ponte di s. Maria, detto Rotto
Questo si disse da alcuni ponte Senatorio, da altri Janiculense, e fu il secondo ponte, che fosse eretto presso Roma, e però tutta la spiaggia, che era tra il suddetto ponte Sublicio, e questo dicevasi inter duos pontes: perciò quivi deve intendersi essere stata la statua di Simon Mago, che descrive s. Giustino martire, e non fra li due ponti dell'isola Tiberina, come fin ora si è creduto. Ebbe principio questo ponte da Marco Fulvio Censore, e poi fu compito da Publio Scipione Africano, e L. Mammio Censori; dipoi essendo per la vecchiezza in parte rovinato, da Giulio III. fu rifatto; ma avendo altra volta pericolato, fu fatto di nuovo da Greg. XIII. l'an. 1575. e finalmente nel 1598. seguendo una grande inondazione rovinarono due archi, e perciò rimanendo in abbandono, dicesi Ponte rotto, ed ancora di s. Maria per la divisata chiesa, che sta da questa parte.
Chiesa di s. Salvatore a Ponte Rotto
A fianco del ponte Senatorio, oggi rotto, si vede questa chiesa, la quale molto dovette essere cospicua ne' secoli passati, poichè conservandosi in essa i corpi de' ss. Proto, e Giacinto, s. Simmaco Papa vi fece la confessione di argento; ma nell'ultima ristaurazione fatta l'anno 1471. da Sisto IV. le colonne della nave di mezzo furono incluse entro i pilastri, e li sagri Corpi furono trasportati alla chiesa di s. Giovanni de' Fiorentini.

Next plate in Book 5: Spiaggia verso la Bocca della Verità
Next step in Day 5 itinerary: Chiesa ed Ospedale di S. Galla
Next step in Day 6 itinerary: S. Maria in Cappella
Next step in your tour of Rione Ripa: Ponte Quattro Capi