The Gregorian bridge crosses the Aniene in Tivoli and takes its name from Pope Gregory XVI, who wanted it built. It was inaugurated by the pope on 24 May 1835, after just under two years of work begun in 1834.
What to see
The bridge was born of the destructive floods of the Aniene that Tivoli suffered throughout its history, especially at the beginning of the nineteenth century. In 1826 the river caused severe damage to the town; in 1832 Gregory XVI decided to channel the watercourse and entrusted the architect Clemente Folchi with the Traforo Gregoriano, a channel dug under Monte Catillo to divert the water that fell in violent cascades at the foot of the town. This bridge was built over the river.
In May 1944, while withdrawing from the town, German troops blew it up to block access to the other bank and hinder the Allied advance. It was rebuilt very quickly, in the same year. The flow of the Aniene beneath the bridge, long interrupted, has been partly restored in recent years.
Visiting
The bridge crosses the Aniene in Tivoli. The sources give no information on pedestrian access: check it on the spot.
Our editors' tip
Together with the Traforo came the Villa Gregoriana, designed to hold the new waterfalls created by diverting the river: bridge, channel and villa are parts of the same scheme decided by Gregory XVI after the flood of 1826.
