Ponte Cavour, Rome
The Benso di Cavour Bridge, better known as the Ponte Cavour, is one of the most unusual sights in Rome. It is famous for the fact that every year travelers from different parts of the world come here not only to admire the unusual architecture of the bridge, but also to hear stories and legends, which have been accumulated for many years.
Legends and stories of the Ripetta Bridge
Earlier, on the site where the Ponte Cavour was built, the old Ripetta Bridge was located, but it was dismantled along with the same port in order to make way for the construction of a new bridge and to relieve traffic in a rapidly developing city. With the disappearance of the Ripetta Bridge, the legends began to slowly disappear from the memory of the townspeople, but some still managed to be preserved:
- One of the most striking events is the trick of a French acrobat who crossed the Tiber River by a rope stretched between two banks at an altitude of 25 meters. The spectators watched the brave stunts straight from the bridge, holding their breath and at the end awarded the acrobat with a storm of applause.
- The second legend is not so joyful: many years ago on the bridge there was an eerie murder, witnessed by many passers-by. A resident of Rome Augusto Formilli threw off his wife from the bridge and thereby decided to rid himself of the bonds of marriage. This story was widely publicized in the city, and the perpetrator was arrested and imprisoned for 30 years.
History of Ponte Cavour
The construction of the Ponte Cavour was led by the famous Italian architect Angelo Vescovali. The grand opening took place in 1901. It was named after the first Prime Minister of Italy, Camillo Benso di Cavour, a man who played a huge role in uniting Italy into the one country. The composition of the bridge lacks a large number of sculptures and stucco, but this simplicity and elegance adds a special charm to the bridge of Benso di Cavour.
The inhabitants of Rome associate Ponte Cavour with a pleasant New Year's tradition. On January 1, 1946, a Belgian named Ric de Sonia jumped from the Cavour Bridge into the cold waters of the Tiber River to celebrate the New Year. After it he appeared on the beach to inform all viewers that he was doing well and showed the OK sign, the Romans liked it very much, and he received the unusual nickname "Mr. OK", and his deed turned into a city tradition. For many years on January 1, several athletes are making New Year jumps to the Tiber, under the cheers of the townspeople. Every year this action collects an increasing number of spectators.
How to get there
In order to get to the most laconic bridge in Rome, you should use the services of public transport:
- buses No. 53, 69, 301, 628;
- tram number 2.
