Charles Emmanuel III Bridge, Turin
Charles Emmanuel III Bridge in Turin (Ponte Carlo Emanuele III) is almost 130 years old. It connects the banks of the Dora Riparia River in Parco Dora. After its construction the bridge had strategic importance, since it connected 3 industrial regions. Now on both sides of it, here are much larger bridges, which took away the main traffic load.
History of the bridge
At the end of the 19th century, industrialization was gaining momentum. And before the municipality of Circolo Valdocco there was an acute question about the construction of the bridge. On the north bank of the river there were many factories, whose products were required to be delivered to the city very quickly. Attorney Giuseppe Sarti and Count Provana di Collegno, who owned several factories and farms, promised to sponsor the construction. For this they set one condition: the work must be completed within a year.
The erection of the bridge began in 1889 and ended in a year, in 1890. Thus, the iron bridge connected three districts: Valdocco, Madonna di Campagna and Lucento. In 1928, as a result of the strengthening of the traffic, it was decided to reconstruct the bridge. The company Bertelè, who implemented the project of engineer Mario Dezzutti completed the construction in 1931.
Bridge architecture and personality
After that, the bridge was no longer changed. Now it is a reliable reinforced concrete structure with one arched span. From two sides the bridge is framed by neat metal rails. They are divided into 10 sections of cylindrical stone columns. Today traffic on the bridge is insignificant due to the presence of upstream bridges Ponte Candido Ramello and Corso Potenza.
The bridge is named after Charles Emanuel III, who ruled Sardinia, Savoy and Piedmont in the 18th century. He was remembered by the absolute concentration of power in his hands, wars with Poland and Austria, and strengthening of state borders. The king also carried out many reforms, which were often perceived ambiguously by different layers of the population.
How to get there
The bridge is located in the Parco Dora, being part of the Corso Umbria street, a little north of the center of Turin. Nearby, in the same park, there is the Environment Museum. On the opposite bank of the river there is an interesting structure, the church Santo Volto. Near the northern end of the bridge, at the intersection of Corso Svizzera and Via Borgaro, there is a public transport stop P.D.Francesca. It can be reached by tram lines 3, 9, and bus № 22.
