mong the engineering works that testify to the remarkable building ability of the Romans and the particular use of the arch as a principal element, bridges constitute an important chapter.
At present, there are five bridges in Rome that were built during this period and still existing: Milvio, Fabricio, Cestio, Elio and Emilio.

t is well known that the first settlement of the city were made on the Tiber of banks river at the Tiber Island a good point to pass to cross the river and immediately before the rapids that condition the navigability.
Right where the island is, we find two of the most ancient bridges of the city: the Ponte Fabricio - built in 62 B.C. - that joins the island with the left bank of the river, and the Ponte Cestio, built just a little later, that joins the island with the other bank. Not far, down the valley, we find the ruins of an other Roman bridge that was often altered: the Ponte Emilio. On the other hand, the Ponte Elio, now called Ponte Sant'Angelo, was built during the age of Adriano; it is in front of Hadrian's Tomb that has been modified in Renaissance and Baroque periods.
The Ponte Milvio o Molle - ancient Ponte Milvius - was built in the II century BC and so it is the most ancient stone bridge of the city; it is situated just outside the ancient urban area and it had a notable strategic importance because right there converged the principal consular roads from the north: Flaminia, Cassia and Clodia.