Ponte Altinate

Ponte Altinate
Coordinates45°24′32″N 11°52′43″E / 45.408904°N 11.878543°E / 45.408904; 11.878543
CrossesBrenta River
LocalePadua, Italy
Characteristics
DesignSegmental arch bridge
Total length44.40 m (incl. abutments)
Width7.77 m
Longest span12.29 m
No. of spans3
History
Construction end1st century BC
Location
Map

The Ponte Altinate is a Roman bridge in Padua, Italy. The late Republican bridge once spanned a branch of the Brenta river whose course is today followed by the street Riviera del Ponti Romani. The structure is located at the crossing with Via Altinate and, lying underground, completely obstructed from view by the modern pavement.

The rise-to-span ratio is 1:4 for the main arch and 1:3.7 for the two lateral ones, while the ratio of pier thickness to clear span is c. 1:5.[1]

Close by is the similarly inaccessible Roman bridge Ponte San Lorenzo which is open to visitors at fixed hours though.

  1. ^ Galliazzo 1994, pp. 203–204 (No. 433)