Ponte Pietra (in Italian Stone bridge) over the Adige river in Verona was built by the ancient Romans in 89 BC. For several centuries, the bridge was rebuilt and strengthened. During the Second world war, it was blown up, but after the war it was restored in original form.
The bridge has 5 beautiful arched spans with marble details. The length of the bridge reaches 120 meters. On the city side, the Alberto dela Scala watchtower was built on the bridge in 1298, and on the left Bank, the high hill of San Pietro rises above the bridge. It was on this site that the fortress of San Pietro was built in the 16th century. This fortress became the main Bastion for the protection of the city.
In Ancient Rome, the bridge was not called Stone, but Marble, as it was lined with marble slabs. It was used by the ancient Posthumian road that connected the port of Genoa on the Ligurian sea with the Alpine regions of the Roman Empire.
At the foot of this hill was an ancient Roman theater, partially preserved to this day, and the castle of San Pietro was demolished by order of Napoleon. On the other side of the theater, there used to be another Ponte Postumia bridge, but it has not survived to the present day.
