Ponte Pietra

Ponte Pietra crosses the Adige River in Verona between the historic centre and Castel San Pietro. Its five arches carry pedestrians towards the Roman theatre, with views across the water, northern hills, and city rooftops. The humpback profile rises above the river, while openings in the pillars allow floodwater to pass through.

Roman builders completed the bridge around 100 BC, choosing a narrower, shallower stretch of the Adige. The crossing formed part of the Via Postumia, linking Genoa with Aquileia and carrying travellers towards the eastern bank. White stone survives in the two left arches, while red brick marks Scaliger rebuilding on the right. The central arch reflects Venetian reconstruction, and a medieval defensive tower still guards the far end.

Floods damaged the structure repeatedly, and retreating German troops destroyed four arches during the Second World War. Post-war restoration recovered original pieces from the river and rebuilt each section in its earlier style. A river-god sculpture remains visible beneath a downstream arch, beside the contrasting stone and brickwork. Nearby fragments recall the lost Pons Postumius, which once stood alongside this enduring route across Verona.