Vittorio Emanuele II Bridge
Rome Italy
2016
by Jennifer

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.

QUOTE: POSITIVE Energy

As the king of beasts a lion was meant to convey strength, courage, and power in early Rome. In the days of Caesar, it was common for military and political leaders to have a lions head on the front door as a door knocker. It also came to symbolize the fallen hero and was often used in cemeteries and on caskets.

The depiction of a lion is often one of the more forgotten symbols of Rome. A lion in antiquity is seen to portray the Roman people as well as the strength and sovereignty of the Roman Empire.



As you walk along the 354 feet of the Ponte Vittorio, you will encounter four allegorical sculptures. They were carved from travertine marble in 1911. They symbolize Oppression Conquered, Loyalty to the State, Freedom and the Unification of Italy. The bridge was designed by Ennio De Rossi and opened on the 50th anniversary of Italy’s unification.

Located immediately downstream from Sant’Angelo Bridge, Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II connects Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, in the historic center, to Rione XIV - Borgo and the Vatican.

Architect Ennio De Rossi conceived and designed it in 1886. In 1889, the construction started but the works were soon interrupted. In 1908, they were taken up again by the Allegri firm, which built the bridge respecting the original project.

Ponte Vittorio is spread over three masonry arches, is 110 meters long, and 20 wide. It has a sumptuous sculptural decoration with four marble groups and four Victories on its pillars and headboards. The groups had to represent "The virtues of King Vittorio Emanuele II." In June 1909, a public contest was to decide on their execution.

The jury commissioned the following sculptors: Elmo Palazzi, Luigi Casadio, Amleto Cataldi, and Francesco Pifferetti for the bronze Victories; Giuseppe Romagnoli for The fidelity to the Statute (after Novara, 1849); Italo Griselli for The Military Value (the Battle of San Martino, 1859); Giovanni Nicolini for The Political Triumph (proclamation of the Reign of Italy, 1861); Cesare Reduzzi for The Father of the Nation (Vittorio Emanuele in Rome during the flooding of 1870).

The President of the Commission, Ettore Ferrari, chose the precise location of each sculptural group on the bridge. Due to some delays in transforming plaster models into travertine stone, the statues were positioned only in early 1912.

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II was inaugurated for the first time on 5 June 1911 for the Universal Exposition and the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy. It is no coincidence that the bridge took the name of the first King of Italy. The second inauguration took place after the placement of the travertine groups on 28 April 1912.

Between 1889 and 1911, it was flanked by a temporary bridge consisting of iron beams, Ponte degli Alari, then demolished at the opening of Ponte Vittorio.