- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
Photo: User:MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological site, 61 BC
Pons Fabricius
Oldest Roman bridge in Rome, Italy, still existing in its original state
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura”
At a glance
- Type
- Archaeological site
- Period
- Antiquity, 61 BC
- Materials
- Stone
- Protection
- Italian national heritage
- Coordinates
- 41°53′28″ N, 12°28′41″ E
History and description
The Pons Fabricius (Italian: Ponte Fabricio, "Fabrician Bridge") or Ponte dei Quattro Capi, is the oldest extant bridge in Rome, Italy. Built in 62 BC, it spans half of the Tiber River, from the Campus Martius on the east side to Tiber Island in the middle (the Pons Cestius is west of the island). Quattro Capi ("four heads") refers to the two marble pillars of the two-faced Janus herms on the parapet, which were moved here from the nearby Church of St Gregory (Monte Savello) in the 14th century.
Bridge
According to Dio Cassius, the bridge was built in 62 BC, the year after Cicero was consul, to replace an earlier wooden bridge destroyed by fire. It was commissioned by Lucius Fabricius, the curator of the roads and a member of the gens Fabricia of Rome. Completely intact from Roman antiquity, it has been in continuous use ever since.
The Pons Fabricius has a length of 62 m, and is 5.5 m wide. It is constructed from two wide arches spanning 24 m (80 ft), supported by a central pillar in the middle of the stream. The arches of this bridge are the first ones on any Roman bridge that were not semi-circular. This is possibly caused by the semi-circle being located below the water line. Its core is constructed of tuff. Its outer facing today is made of bricks and travertine. A relief is located 6 m (20 ft) above the pier. During times of flood, this relief served as an additional waterway.
A later inscription, in smaller lettering, records that the bridge was restored under Pope Innocent XI, probably in 1679.
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Pons Fabricius».
Timeline
- 61 BCBuilt
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Roma San PietroTrain, nearest
2.0 km as the crow flies
Pons Fabricius
Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino13.9 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
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Nearby
See on the mapMore archaeological sites in Lazio
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
Frequently asked questions
Where is Pons Fabricius?
Pons Fabricius is in Rome, in the province of Roma (Lazio), Italy. GPS coordinates: 41.89098, 12.47819.
How old is Pons Fabricius?
Wikidata dates it to 61 BC.
What else is there to see near Pons Fabricius?
Nearby you’ll find: Torre Caetani (0 m away), Piazza di Monte Savello (100 m away), Temple of Aesculapius (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).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Pons Fabricius — User:MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Het Isola San Bartolommeo met de Ponte Quattro Capi, voorheen de Pons Fabricius, Rome, RP-T-2014-13-14 — Rijksmuseum, CC0
- 14 572 Ponte Fabricio — Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2016 Ponte Fabricio — Jordiferrer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Inscription from Fabricius’ bridge, Pons Fabricius, Fields of Mars (Campus Martius), Rome (32623603511) — Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Isola Tiberina - Ponte Fabriciop — Piroetta, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Isola Tiberina with Ponte Fabricio — User:MatthiasKabel, CC BY-SA 3.0
- L06 706 Ponte Fabricio — Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Love on the Ponte Fabricio - Rome, Italy - DSC00477 — Daderot, CC0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences