Attraction, Sasso Marconi
Not far from Palazzo de' Rossi is the striking Ponte di Vizzano bridge, also called the suspension bridge because of its typical suspended structure inspired by the famous Brooklyn Bridge.
Located in Pontecchio Marconi, a town that takes its name from the bridge itself, it was built in ancient times to join the two banks of the Reno River, a role it still plays today. In fact, historians speculate that it was built in Roman times to facilitate connections between Bologna and Florence. However, it was later decided to build a new, shorter and more convenient road, today's Statale della Futa. The bridge thus fell into disuse and over time was destroyed.
The light and elegant structure we see today is the last in a series of reconstructions that began in 1926. Soon after the first reconstruction, the newly built concrete piers did not survive the exceptional flood of 1928 and were destroyed by the violence of the water.
That is why they later opted for a suspended structure with steel cables, reminiscent of the Brooklyn Bridge style. The new inauguration was set for 1930, and this time the bridge survived for 15 years before being pulled down by German troops, who blew it up at the end of World War II.
It was not until 1949 that the bridge was rebuilt, which, thanks to some renovation work, is what we still see today. Finally, it should be remembered that its fame is especially linked to the Via degli Dei and the Via della Lana e della Seta (Wool and Silk Road). The Vizzano Bridge is on the itinerary of both paths.
