Pons Cestius

Pons Cestius

Italian: Ponte Cestio
The Pons Cestius in its modern form
The Roman bridge around 1880, before its reconstruction
Coordinates41°53′24.8″N 12°28′38″E / 41.890222°N 12.47722°E / 41.890222; 12.47722
Carriespedestrians, motor vehicles
Crosses
LocaleRome, Italy
Next upstreamPonte Garibaldi
Next downstreamPonte Palatino
Characteristics
Designarch bridge
MaterialStone (tuff, peperino, travertine)
Total length
  • 80.4 metres (264 ft) (modern)
  • 48 metres (157 ft) (ancient)
Width
  • 8.2 metres (27 ft) (ancient)
Longest span23.65 metres (77.6 ft) (ancient)
No. of spans3
Piers in water2
History
Built
  • c. 62 – c. 27 BC
  • (first stone bridge)
  • 370 AD
  • (Pons Gratiani)
Rebuilt
  • 1880–1892
  • (present bridge)
Location
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view

The Pons Cestius (Latin for the "Cestian Bridge"; Italian: Ponte Cestio) is an ancient Roman bridge connecting the right bank of the Tiber with the west bank of Tiber Island in Rome, Italy.[1] In Late Antiquity, the bridge was replaced and renamed the Pons Gratiani[1] ("Bridge of Gratian"). It is also known as Ponte San Bartolomeo[1] (Italian for "Bridge of St Bartholomew"). No more than one third of the present stone bridge is of ancient material, as it was entirely rebuilt and extended in the 19th century after numerous earlier restorations.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Richardson, Lawrence (1992). "Pons Cestius". A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 297–298. ISBN 978-0-8018-4300-6.