Things to see · Monuments and historic buildings
Roman Bridge of San Vito
Potenza (Potenza)
Roman Bridge of San Vito is in Potenza, province of Potenza. Opening hours: Always open. Admission: Free.
- Free.
- Always open.
About this place
The San Vito Bridge crosses the Basento in the lower part of Potenza and is the oldest surviving testimony of the Roman city of Potentia.
History
The piers, the only part remaining of the original structure, most likely date back to the late Roman period; the upper part shows signs of restorations from the Middle Ages onwards. The bridge was part of the via Herculia, the Roman road that crossed Lucania passing through Potenza. In the past it was called the ponte di Sant’Oronzio (Bridge of Sant’Oronzio): according to tradition, it commemorates the martyrdom of Saint Oronzio and his brothers, who were killed in the Basento in the 3rd century for refusing to renounce the Christian faith.
What to see
• The three arches, supported by two piers set in the riverbed.
• The Basento river park around the bridge, with walking paths, sports areas and picnic tables.
Useful information
• It’s a lovely spot for a walk or a run along the river.
• Further downstream stands the modern ponte Musmeci, a masterpiece of 20th-century engineering.
