The “Ponte dell’Arcobaleno” in Vulci. Its history, restoration and current problematic issues

In 2012, some particularly intense flooding of the Fiora River damaged the bridge of the Badia in the Archaeological Park of Vulci, which lies between Canino and Montalto di Castro. The flood damaged the riverbed structure, carrying away portions of wall at the base of the right pylon, and dragging them downstream. The remaining sections of the pylon are now smaller and the wall connections have been strongly affected. In particular, the flood’s violence “tore off” the protective external layer, making the pylon more vulnerable to further deterioration. The bridge, which is known as “Ponte dell’Arcobaleno”(Rainbow Bridge), together with the narrow gorge carved by the river and the abbey castle, form a beautiful panoramic view that has been drawn by painters and described by travellers such as George Dennis and David Herbert Lawrence. It spans the Flora River at a point when the banks are very close together, but although this characteristic made it possible to build the bridge in Etruscan times, during floods the bridge blocks the riverbed in a place where the current accelerates strongly. This creates an obstruction that is made worse by the further obstacle of huge boulders, which have fallen off the steep banks into the riverbed. In the prospect of a restoration, the bridge has been meticulously examined in order to determine its construction characteristics and the materials used. This study also included the history of the structure, from the remotest times to relatively recent periods, when it has undergone considerable restoration. As I mentioned, the right pylon is the part of the bridge most damaged by the flood. Fortunately the shape of the river bank at that point makes it easy to set up temporary structures for the restoration, which for safety reasons would have to be completed in a very short space of time, during the period when floods are statistically less common. For these reasons and also because of the limited funds made available by the Soprintendenza dell’Etruria Meridionale, the restoration will focus on repairing the remaining section of the right pylon.

Studi e interventi di consolidamento per il ponte di Vulci sul Fiora, danneggiato dalla piena del 2012