Have you noticed how the lights dance on the water near Ponte Balbis? This bridge has a story that stretches back almost a century. Ponte Balbis stands here between Corso Bramante and Piazza Scevola.
Let’s step back to the 1920s. Imagine Turin buzzing with excitement. It was 1928 and the city was hosting the Esposizione Nazionale. This exposition celebrated the tenth anniversary of Vittorio Veneto. Ponte Balbis was built for this occasion.
Giuseppe Pagano Pogatsching designed Ponte Balbis. The Porcheddu company constructed it between 1926 and 1927. The result was a 147-meter-long bridge with three spans. It’s also 20 meters wide. The bridge is made of reinforced concrete.
Originally it was named Ponte Vittorio Emanuele III. Later the bridge was named after Franco Balbis. Franco Balbis was a local hero. He was an artillery captain. He fought in World War II. Balbis joined the resistance after Italy signed an armistice in 1943. The Federation of Fascist Republicans captured him. They executed him in 1944. Balbis was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor.
Look at the lights reflecting on the Po River. Today Ponte Balbis is more than just a way to cross the river. It is a landmark. It contributes to the city’s character. The bridge connects past and present.