Ponti Vecchiu on Taravo (also on Petreto-Bicchisano municipality)

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

Ponti Vecchiu (or Pont d'Abra) is a medieval pedestrian bridge built in the 15th century, located in the municipality of Petreto-Bicchisano in South Corsica. This bridge on the back of a donkey, typical of Genoese architecture, is built in stone and crosses the Taravo thanks to a master arch decorated with bolt holes at its base, resting on a rocky base. A second, smaller arch spans an adjacent rock, reinforcing the structure.

Ranked a Historical Monument by decree of November 10, 1976, the Ponti Vecchiu illustrates Genoese civil engineering in Corsica. Its design, both functional and aesthetic, reflects medieval construction techniques adapted to local geographical constraints. The bridge, owned by the commune, remains a material testimony of the traffic exchanges and infrastructure of the time.

The bolt holes visible on the main arch suggest the use of a wooden scaffolding during its construction, a method common in the Middle Ages. Although its exact location is estimated to be satisfactory a priori (note 6/10), the bridge retains a major heritage value, linked to its state of conservation and its historical role in crossing the Taravo.

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