Resti di ponte d'epoca Romana
Museum | Parma | Emilia-Romagna | Italy
The "Pons Lapidis", also known as Ponte Romano or Ponte di Teodorico, is an ancient Roman bridge remnant in Parma, Italy. It is located in the basement of Via Mazzini, near Piazza Ghiaia. The original bridge was built in 187 BC along the Via Emilia to cross the Parma River. This initial construction consisted of stone foundations and a wooden structure. During the reign of Emperor Augustus, a stone wall was added to the bridge, but it was damaged by floods. In 493, the Ostrogothic King Theoderich the Great completely reconstructed the bridge in stone, preserving the foundations of the original eleven arches. After a major flood in 1177, the course of the Parma River changed, leaving the bridge area dry. In 1547, Duke Pier Luigi Farnese demolished some of the houses built over the bridge as they were blocking the Via Emilia. In 1966, two of the eleven arches were rediscovered during work on Via Mazzini, leading to the creation of a pedestrian tunnel directly connecting to the adjacent Piazza Ghiaia. This tunnel later became a significant historical site for the city. In 2018, as part of a comprehensive urban renewal project, the tunnel was reopened and now serves as an exhibition space dedicated to the Roman history of Parma. It houses over 260 archaeological finds, including large architectural fragments such as weapon friezes and Corinthian capitals from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. These exhibits provide a deep insight into the life and culture of the ancient Roman colony of Parma.
