Was that an angel? It’s a question that has echoed around Ponte Sant’Anzolo for centuries. The Ponte Sant’Anzolo, known originally as the Aelian Bridge or Pons Aelius, is steeped in legend and drama. This bridge, completed in 134 AD under Emperor Hadrian, wasn’t just a passage over the Tiber. It was a grand entryway to his newly built mausoleum, the imposing Castel Sant’Angelo that looms before us. While faced in travertine marble today, imagine it in its Roman glory. Five arches, three original to its creation, spanning the Tiber. The bridge we see now is a pedestrian haven, a far cry from its tumultuous past. It’s hard to imagine that during the Middle Ages, this bridge was a pilgrim’s lifeline. It was the only controlled route to St. Peter’s Basilica. Then came the sixth century, a time of plague and fear. Legend says Pope Gregory I, saw the Archangel Michael atop the castle, sheathing his sword, signaling the plague’s end. This vision led to the renaming of both castle and bridge to Sant’Angelo. The Ponte Sant’Anzolo, once a site for displaying the bodies of the executed, is now adorned with the magnificent angel statues, each holding a symbol of Christ’s crucifixion. But remember, the bridge’s name predates these striking additions. It harks back to that legendary angelic appearance, a beacon of hope in a time of despair. As you stroll across, let those centuries-old whispers and the breathtaking view wash over you, for the Ponte Sant’Anzolo is more than just a bridge. It’s a timeless story etched in stone and legend.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to