www.visitapavia.it | Pavia and Pavese

The Ponte Coperto (Covered Bridge), which is also known as the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) crosses the Ticino river and connects the old town centre with the Ticino hamlet. Construction on the bridge began in 1352 alongside the ruins of a Roman bridge, part of which can still be seen in the middle of the river. The bridge then had to be completely rebuilt after it was damaged during the second world war by English American troops.
There had been much debate over whether the original bridge should have been renovated or rebuilt (although the top part was damaged, the pylons were still intact) until, unfortunately, the decision was finally taken to demolish it and build it from scratch. The bridge, which was now slightly further down the river, was completed and inaugurated in 1951.