- UNESCO
Archaeological site, Padua (PD)
45°24′22″ N, 11°52′40″ E
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At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Materials
- Stone
- Coordinates
- 45°24′22″ N, 11°52′40″ E
History and description
The Ponte San Lorenzo is a Roman bridge over the river Bacchiglione in Padua, Italy. Constructed between 47 and 30 BC, it is one of the very earliest segmental arched bridges in the world. It is also notable for the slenderness of its piers, unsurpassed in antiquity.
Location
The Ponte San Lorenzo was one of four Roman bridges in ancient Padua crossing the Medoacus (modern Bacchiglione). Located in the Via San Francesco, the three-arched bridge is today for the most part framed by surrounding buildings, which have moved closer to the river over the centuries. Only its eastern arch spanning the restricted waterway was largely visible until the middle of the 20th century, when it too disappeared from view as the remaining canal was filled up to the Riviera del Ponti Romani street. The intact arches of the bridge still exist below street level and can be visited at fixed times by the public. Earthworks in 1773 and 1938, during which parts of the bridge were temporarily excavated, were used for archaeological investigations.
Two further Roman bridges in Padua are obstructed from sight, the Ponte Corbo, also located in the Via San Francesco, and the completely inaccessible Ponte Altinate in the Via Altinate. Both bridges also rest on segmented arches, as does the above-ground Ponte Molino. The fifth Roman bridge in town is the Ponte S. Matteo close to the church of the same name.
Construction
The Ponte San Lorenzo is 53.30 m long and 8.35 m wide. The date of its construction is fixed by a bridge inscription to between 47 and 30 BC. The bridge is of particular importance in the history of ancient technology for its flattened arches and slender piers. Its three arches span 12.8 m, 14.4 m and 12.5 m, with the span 3.7 times the rise, or, differently put, describing a segment of a circle of 113°. The profile of the structure thus considerably differs from the typical Roman semi-circular bridge arch with its value of 180°.
The pier thickness of Roman bridges varies—as far as determined—between one half and one fifth of the span. Small piers offer less resistance to the water flow, thus reducing the risk of undermined foundations. On the other hand, all piers have to be strong enough to accommodate two arch ribs. The pier thickness of the Ponte San Lorenzo measures only 1.72 m, which corresponds to no more than one eighth of the span of the central opening, a value not to be achieved again until the High Middle Ages.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Ponte San Lorenzo».
Getting there
PadovaTrain, nearest
1.3 km as the crow flies
Ponte San Lorenzo
Aeroporto di Treviso-Sant'Angelo36.5 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
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More archaeological sites in Veneto
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Ponte San Lorenzo?
Ponte San Lorenzo is in Padua, in the province of Padova (Veneto), Italy. GPS coordinates: 45.40611, 11.87787.
What else is there to see near Ponte San Lorenzo?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo Trieste (100 m away), Bo Palace (100 m away), Palazzo Zabarella (100 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences