Ponte Rotto
Ponte Rotto
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Neighbourhood: Sant'Angelo
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
113 reviews
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29
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24
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Mairwen1
United Kingdom9,334 contributions
Jun 2022
This ancient bridge is not accessible and only the remains of one arched span is left. Its a strange sight - just a single, a massive arch in the middle of the river. Weeds also spring out of some of the brickwork but you can still see the carved dragons above the arches. It makes for an atmospheric photo.
It’s real name is the Aemilius Bridge but it is nicknamed “Ponte Rotto”, meaning “The Broken Bridge”.
Constructed in 179 B.C. by the consul, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the bridge survived until the end of the 1500's but severe flooding damaged it badly and strong currents kept hammering away at it.
It’s not the only bridge to have collapsed over the Tiber River.
Ponte Aurelio, constructed by Marcus Aurelius in the 3rd century to link Trastevere to the city, was dodgy enough to earn the nickname Ponte Tremolo (wobbly bridge). It was eventually washed away in the 8th century.
The more substantial Ponte San’ Angelo collapsed under the weight of too many pilgrims in Holy Week, 1450. Hundreds died.
Several attempts were made to resurrect Ponte Rotto and at one time even Michelangelo was brought in to work on it but by 1887, it was replaced by a new and far less attractive, but very functional structure, the Palatine Bridge (Ponte Palatino).
This newer bridge is the best spot to get a good photo of the broken bridge.
It’s real name is the Aemilius Bridge but it is nicknamed “Ponte Rotto”, meaning “The Broken Bridge”.
Constructed in 179 B.C. by the consul, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, the bridge survived until the end of the 1500's but severe flooding damaged it badly and strong currents kept hammering away at it.
It’s not the only bridge to have collapsed over the Tiber River.
Ponte Aurelio, constructed by Marcus Aurelius in the 3rd century to link Trastevere to the city, was dodgy enough to earn the nickname Ponte Tremolo (wobbly bridge). It was eventually washed away in the 8th century.
The more substantial Ponte San’ Angelo collapsed under the weight of too many pilgrims in Holy Week, 1450. Hundreds died.
Several attempts were made to resurrect Ponte Rotto and at one time even Michelangelo was brought in to work on it but by 1887, it was replaced by a new and far less attractive, but very functional structure, the Palatine Bridge (Ponte Palatino).
This newer bridge is the best spot to get a good photo of the broken bridge.
Written 11 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia26,557 contributions
Jun 2021
The first name of this bridge states the obvious. Ponte Rotto means "Broken Bridge". The second name Aemilius bridge indicates one of the initiators of the construction - the censor and consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Built in 179 BC, the bridge is the oldest in Rome. In summer, the Tiber gives a deceptive impression of a quiet shallow river. However, during the spring floods, it gains power, which demolished this and other bridges in Rome several times. Even Michelangelo, commissioned by Pope Paul III, was engaged in the restoration of this bridge. Really not for long. By 1887, the Romans realized the futility of repairs and put a new Palatine Bridge (Ponte Palatino) next to it. And the Ponte Rotto resembles with one arch what it was 2 millennia earlier.
Written 20 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dapper777
Monaco32,618 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
"Ponte Rotto" is the name by which the section of the ancient "pons Aemilius" is more commonly known.
It probably dates back to the mid-third century BC, it was rebuilt in 179 BC. and completed in 142 BC.
Today only an arch of the sixteenth-century reconstruction and the original Roman pillars are preserved.
It crossed the Tiber just north of the ancient Pons Sublicius.
It is the oldest masonry bridge in Rome.
It connected Trastevere and the Foro Boario (livestock market).
Over the centuries it was destroyed by a series of floods but it was always rebuilt.
Gradually abandoned, it was once used as a fishing pier, but today it is completely inaccessible.
Even if a ruin, it is a great example of the ancient history of the city.
In the evening, it is striking and suggestive.
It probably dates back to the mid-third century BC, it was rebuilt in 179 BC. and completed in 142 BC.
Today only an arch of the sixteenth-century reconstruction and the original Roman pillars are preserved.
It crossed the Tiber just north of the ancient Pons Sublicius.
It is the oldest masonry bridge in Rome.
It connected Trastevere and the Foro Boario (livestock market).
Over the centuries it was destroyed by a series of floods but it was always rebuilt.
Gradually abandoned, it was once used as a fishing pier, but today it is completely inaccessible.
Even if a ruin, it is a great example of the ancient history of the city.
In the evening, it is striking and suggestive.
Written 12 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
inthecityintherain
Los Angeles, CA1,611 contributions
Aug 2019
The Ponte Rotto is the remnants of the oldest stone bridge in Rome. It was first a wooden bridge linking the Trastevere with the other side of the river, and was rebuilt in stone in the 2nd century BC.
Your best view of this bridge is from the Ponte Palatino.
Your best view of this bridge is from the Ponte Palatino.
Written 15 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Malgorzata
12,113 contributions
May 2019
Ponte Emilio , also called Ponte Rotto is the ancient bridge on the Tiber in Rome preserved in the form of ruins, formerly connecting both banks of the river. The construction of the bridge began in 179 BC. The bridge was broken several times in 280, 1230 and 1557 by floods. During the flood in 1598 the water swept away the eastern part of the bridge, which was not rebuilt. In 1887, due to the construction of Ponte Palatino, two of the three remaining spans were demolished. To this day, only one span remains from the bridge in the middle of the river . The broken bridge is one of the most characteristic places of Rome.
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Milen D
Sofia, Bulgaria2,959 contributions
Apr 2017 • Friends
This is the oldest stone bridge in Rome (before this wooden bridges spanned the Tiber), once called the Pons Aemilius, which connected Forum Boarium with Trastevere. It is an arch bridge from 2nd Century BC, and nowadays only a small art of it is still standing, near the uncharming Ponte Palatino. Pitifully, half of the Ponte Rotto was demolished near the end of 19th Century in order to make place for the Ponte Palatino. This was the way modern Italian state, and later Mussolini, cared for Ancient Roman remains ...
Written 22 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia44,507 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
The oldest stone bridge in Rome. Only a portion of the original remains, as time, people and the elements ensured its "passing". As only part of it remains, it is broken, hence the name. Also part of it was demolished to make way for the present bridge.
Written 22 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
545medva
Budapest, Hungary3,972 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
This was once the oldest bridge on the Tevere. Fist it was a wooden construction, later a combination of wood and stone. It was rebuilt several times due to the floods of the river, and today there are only small fragments what you can see.
Written 3 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
toad69
Bishops Stortford, UK298 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
Build a visit to this as a part of the attractions near here it rates stopping to look and reading about the history.
The oldest stone bridge in Rome, the Pons Aemilius was begun in 179 BC and completed in 142 BC. It stood almost intact until 1598, when floods swept away two supporting piers and three of the arches. Two of these arches were dismantled in 1885, leaving only a single one standing in mid-river.
The oldest stone bridge in Rome, the Pons Aemilius was begun in 179 BC and completed in 142 BC. It stood almost intact until 1598, when floods swept away two supporting piers and three of the arches. Two of these arches were dismantled in 1885, leaving only a single one standing in mid-river.
Written 23 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maggi713
Baltimore, MD12,072 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
Most tourists have never heard of the broken bridge. The Ponte Rotto - literally, 'Broken Bridge' - stands on the site of the Pons Aemilius, Rome's first stone bridge, built in 142 BC. All that remains today of Rome’s oldest stone bridge is a single arch in the middle of the Tiber River, but the Pons Aemilius once connected Trastevere with the other side of Rome. It is one of the only remaining examples of Roman Republican architecture. However, no one has been able to cross it since Christmas Eve 1598, when floods carried most of it away. The stone used was locally quarried volcanic tufa, a form of volcanic ash. It is located near the Ponte Palatino - the opposite end of the Tiber Island. It was rebuilt many times - even Michelangelo tried - before 1598, when great chunks collapsed (yet again) into the river and it was decided to give up trying to keep it up. If you are in the area, check it out….it is one of those off the beaten path things to see.
Written 12 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Ponte Rotto
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