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Ponte di Tiberio [Tiberius Bridge]
There are two things to immediately note about the bridge:
Firstly, it remains relatively unchanged since its completion in the time of Tiberius - a testament to the sturdiness of the engineering, and the Istrian limestone used in its construction. The bridge's most northerly arch was destroyed in 522 a.d by the Ostrogoth leader Usdrila, besieging the Byzantine general Narses in Rimini. Reconstruction work on the bridge was undertaken by Innocent XI in 1689, while Rimini was under the control of the Holy See. Some minor damage was done to the bridge by Spanish troops in 1742, necessitating further reconstruction, but the bridge remains, for the most part, intact, and one of the best preserved examples of Roman bridge-building. So the bridge you can walk or drive across today, is much the same as it was almost 2,000 years ago.
Secondly, while the bridge is relatively unchanged, the river that it once traversed is no longer the same. When the bridge was constructed, it was to cross the river Marecchia, which was prone to violent flooding. The bridge was built with five arches, supported by oblique piers that once ran parallel to the river's current, offering the least resistance. During the XXth Century the river Marecchi was diverted northwards to its current path, between San Giuliano and Rivabella, leaving the more tranquil canal which currently flows underneath the Tiberius bridge.
The Devil's Bridge
The bridge is known locally as the Devil's bridge - something which it shares in common with other notable Roman bridges throughout Europe. Behind the name is a legend, surrounding the bridge's origins.According to legend, Tiberius struggled to complete the bridge started by his step-father Augustus. Work took several years, and each time progress was made part of the bridge would collapse. Tiberius pleaded with all the Gods for aid, to no avail. Finally (and anachronistically, but no matter), he turned to the one power capable of building the bridge - the Devil. A pact was made, whereby the Devil would build the bridge in return for the soul of the first living being to cross. The bridge was built, overnight, but when the time came for the inauguration of the bridge, Tiberius slyly sent a dog to cross the bridge in honour of the Gods. The devil, outfoxed, tried to destroy the bridge, in vain. In anger the Devil left, leaving two goat like footprints, supposedly visible in the bridge's stonework to this day.
The legend is a common one, applied to various roman bridges that survived through the chaos of the early middle ages. In reality, during the early medieval period, the techniques used by roman engineers had been lost, and materials had changed, leading to bridges that, unlike the Ponte di Tiberio, would not stand the test of time. Faced with such a durable bridge, without the cultural memory of how to build them, it's not hard to see why legends built up ascribing the construction of these bridges to supernatural forces.1945 brought a new chapter to the legend, when German troops, retreating from allied troops, mined the bridge with the intent to destroy it. Thankfully, like so many military attempts to bring the bridge crumbling down, it was unsuccesful, as the explosives failed to ingite.
The Tiberius Bridge Today
This magnificent Roman bridge is very much still in functional use, bringing traffic and pedestrians from the Borgo San Giuliano accross into the city centre.
The Bridge, in recent years, has played the double role of backdrop and ideal viewing point for a series of concerts, and spectacular shows set on floating stages in the port canal. Most noticeably during the Festa del'Borgo, the festival run every two years by the residents of the old fishing quarter Borgo San Giuliano
How to get to the Tiberius Bridge (Ponte di Tiberio)
The Ponte di Tiberio is easily reachable, by foot, or car/public transport, from either the city centre or the seafront.
By Foot:
From Piazza Tre Martiri
Head across the Piazza, along the Corso d'Augusto, in the direction away from the Arco d'Augusto. You'll pass Julius Caesar on the way, and then a couple of minutes later Piazza Cavour (on your left). Continue along the Corso d'Augusto for another minute or so, and you'll arrive at the bridge built by Augustus and Tiberius.
From Piazza Fellini/The Grand Hotel
The walk from the seafront is longer, but very pleasant in good weather. From Piazza Fellini head towards the road that runs alongside the Grand Hotel, the viale Flavio Gioia - a quiet tree lined street. Continue along the street until you come to the port canal. Crossing over to the water side, turn left and follow the canal for 10/15 minutes, and you'll reach the Ponte di Tiberio.
By Bus:
Consult AM, the Rimini public transport company, for full details.
The easiest bus route to take to reach the bridge is the #1, which takes a circular route around the city centre. Stops include the train station, piazzale Gramsci, and the Augustus Arch.
If you're coming from the seafront, you'll need to take two buses - we suggest you take any of the number of buses from the seafront that reach the Train Station, and then either walk, or hop on a #1.
Nearest Car Park:
There is a large pay-parking car park less than two minutes away from the bridge, on the via Circonvalazione Occidentale. When parked, exit to the right and follow the Circonvalazione, and at the curve in the road you'll see the bridge.
Using the Map
Right-click on the markers to see your destination and landmarks. You can zoom in on the map using the controls on the left. The map can be scrolled by left-clicking within the map, and dragging.