We have all heard of various ancient buildings, but most of them are now just tourist attractions and not used for their intended purpose. However, there are several bridges, built hundreds and even thousands of years ago, along which people and vehicles actively move. Often bridges are destroyed in disasters, in wars, burn down and explode, but the structures from this list have survived centuries.
1. The Bridge of Fabricius
The ancient Romans created many things that have stood the test of time. Thanks to their amazing technology, structures built during the Roman era stand to this day. One of them is the Bridge of Fabricius in Rome.
The bridge was created by Lucius Fabricius in 62 BC to replace a burnt wooden bridge. It is curious that for more than 2000 years of its existence, the bridge was practically not repaired.
2. Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)
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The Ponte Vecchio Bridge is located in the Italian city of Florence. It was built in 1345 to replace the wooden bridge at the narrowest point of the Arno River. It is still as gorgeous as it was centuries ago.
Ponte Vecchio was originally used as a place for shopping arcades - it housed butcher and fish shops so that the smell of slaughter would not disturb the townspeople.
There is a version that it was on him that the concept of "bankruptcy" was born. When the merchant had nothing to repay his debts, the counter on which he placed his goods (“banco”) was broken (“rotto”) by the guards. This practice became known as "bancorotto", because without the counter, the merchant was no longer able to sell anything.
In the 18th century, King Ferdinand I banned the fish and meat trade on the bridge, and since then jewelry and later souvenir shops have been placed on it.
It is curious that during the Second World War, Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge not blown up by the Nazis in Florence.
3. Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is located in Venice and serves as a crossing over the famous Grand Canal. In its place there were many other bridges, wooden, which were destroyed by fires, and in the 16th century it was decided to build a stone bridge.
It was created by a little-known architect Antonio de Ponte. Even before construction began, the project was criticized, and after the construction of the bridge, many predicted that it would soon collapse. However, centuries have passed, and the post still stands in its place.
The Russian traveler P. A. Tolstoy wrote about him at the end of the 17th century:
“There are many bridges in Venice, stone and village, between which there is one stone bridge, very large and wide, which the Italians call Arialt. On that bridge, there are shops on both sides where they sell all sorts of small goods. Beyond that bridge, there are great rows in which silver courts and cloth are sold. Great courts with goldfinches can approach under that bridge, so that that bridge is extremely high, made on one vault and a fair amount of work. The Viennese people are divided in two: those who live on the other side of this commemorated Arialtu bridge, where the church of the team of St. Mark is, they are called kostelians; and those who live from those behind that great bridge mentioned, those are called Nicoliots, - and they have a secret enmity with one another. And there are great fist fights between the vile people between the Nicoliots and the Kastelians. On that remembered great bridge in those kulash battles, there is a lot of murder and death."
4. Haju Bridge
This arched stone footbridge over the Zayande River is located in the Iranian city of Isfahan. The Haju Bridge consists of 24 arches and is 133 meters long and 12 meters wide. The bridge has two tiers decorated with tiles.
It was built in 1650 - on the foundations of an old bridge. This structure performs three functions at once - at the same time it is a dam, a resting place and serves to cross the river. In the middle of the bridge there is a pavilion for the ruler, Shah Abbas II, in which he rested, admiring the river.
5. Shahar bridge
This bridge, also known as the "Bridge of Sighs", is located in Yemen. Built in the 17th century, the Shahara Bridge connects two mountains over a deep gorge. There are villages on each mountain, and before the bridge was built, it was very difficult for their inhabitants to communicate with each other.
This bridge is one of the main tourist attractions in Yemen and is featured on the 10 riyals coin.
6. The Jendere Bridge
The Jendere Bridge is located in Turkey. It was built in the 2nd century AD by the Romans. This is one of the longest arched bridges of the era of ancient Rome - its length is about 120 meters. It rests on two rocks and consists of 92 stones. The bridge was created in honor of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna and their sons Caracalla and Geta.
On each side of the bridge, there are columns erected in honor of the emperor and his wife (on one side) and their children (on the other side). There is currently no column in honor of Geth. When Caracalla came to power, he killed Geth and tried to erase any mention of him - and Gethe's column was destroyed.
7. Anji Bridge
Anji Bridge is the oldest surviving bridge in China, built in 605 AD. Its name can be translated as "safe passage".
At the time, it was the most technically advanced bridge in the country, with the largest arch. Interestingly, modern engineers have appreciated this bridge, it even received awards from the American Society of Engineering. The bridge has survived ten floods, eight wars and a large number of earthquakes, with only nine repairs.
8. Bridge of the Holy Angel
Built by Emperor Hadrian in 136 AD, the Tiber River Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in Rome and one of the most beautiful.
It is faced with marble slabs. This bridge leads to the Castel Sant'Angelo, on top of which is the statue of the Archangel Michael. But this is not the only reason why the bridge is called Saint Angel's Bridge. In 1668, the sculptor Lorenzo Bernini decorated the bridge with ten angels. Even after many years, the angels and the bridge are perfectly preserved, making it a wonderful attraction.
9. Bridge Tarr Steps
This small bridge, made of stone slabs, is located in British Exmoor Park and connects the banks of the Barlo speech. It is difficult to say when it was built, some researchers believe that it could have been created in 3000 BC. There is a local legend that says that this bridge is the creation of the devil himself, who vowed to kill anyone who dares to cross it. They say that initially a cat was allowed to cross the bridge, and he immediately disappeared. Then the locals sent a vicar across the bridge, saying that the devil would not dare to touch the priest.
The devil and the vicar met halfway across the bridge and made an agreement. Anyone can walk on Tarr Steps, but only if the devil does not take sunbathing on the bridge at that moment. So the locals say, "Before you decide to walk the Tarr Steps, make sure that no demons are taking a sun bath at the moment."
Unfortunately, Tarr Steps has suffered some damage over the centuries. Some of its stones were destroyed by floods, but the bridge is periodically restored, so that it can serve for many more years.
10. Arcadiko Bridge
The Arcadiko pedestrian bridge in Greece is the oldest surviving arch bridge.
It is assumed that it was built around 1300 BC, that is, it went through a lot before it survives to this day. This bridge is somewhat wider than ordinary pedestrian bridges - about 2.5 meters, perhaps in ancient times chariots drove along it. The bridge is made of huge boulders, without any cementing mortar, but it has remained unbreakable for thousands of years.
Natalia Trubinovskaya