Ponte Umberto I, also known as Ponte Umberto, is a

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually somethi ...

that links Piazza di Ponte Umberto I to Piazza dei Tribunali in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

(

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

), in the

rioni The Rioni ( ka, რიონი, ; , ) is the main river of western Georgia. It originates in the Caucasus Mountains, in the region of Racha and flows west to the Black Sea, entering it north of the city of Poti (near ancient Phasis). The city ...

Ponte and

Prati Prati is the 22nd ''rione'' of Rome, identified by the initials R. XXII. It belongs to the Municipio I since 2013, while previously, along with Borgo and ''quartieri'' Trionfale and Della Vittoria, it was part of the Municipio XVII. Its coat of ...

Description

The bridge was designed by architect Angelo Vescovali and built between 1885 and 1895; it was dedicated to

Umberto I Umberto I ( it, Umberto Rainerio Carlo Emanuele Giovanni Maria Ferdinando Eugenio di Savoia; 14 March 1844 – 29 July 1900) was King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his assassination on 29 July 1900. Umberto's reign saw Italy attempt colo ...

King of Italy King of Italy ( it, links=no, Re d'Italia; la, links=no, Rex Italiae) was the title given to the ruler of the Kingdom of Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The first to take the title was Odoacer, a barbarian military leader ...

, who inaugurated the bridge together with his consort

Margherita of Savoy Margherita of Savoy (''Margherita Maria Teresa Giovanna''; 20 November 1851 – 4 January 1926) was Queen of Italy by marriage to Umberto I. Life Early life Margherita was born to Prince Ferdinand of Savoy, Duke of Genoa and Princess Elisabe ...

. The bridge links the Palace of Justice (popularly known as ''Palazzaccio'') to the area surrounding

Piazza Navona Piazza Navona () is a public open space in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in the 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans went there to watch the '' agones' ...

. It is made of three masonry arches covered with

travertine Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a p ...

and stone of Subiaco and is about 105 m (344 ft) long. The bridge carries a road with 2 lanes in each direction. Unusually for a road in Italy, this road drives on the left. ( Ponte Palatino also has left hand side traffic.) To prevent collisions, there is a raised section with a fence in the middle of the road. Rome, Ponte Umberto I - Left-hand traffic

Rome, Ponte Umberto I - Left-hand traffic

Notes

Bibliography

* * Bridges in Rome R. V Ponte Bridges in Rome R. XXII Prati Bridges completed in 1895 Road bridges in Italy {{Italy-bridge-struct-stub