Il riattamento settecentesco dell’antico ponte «al Fiume Rubicone volgarmente chiamato Uso»

Abstract

Along the Via Flaminia/Emilia – which connected Rome with Bologna and the rest of Europe – one of the most dangerous
river crossings was the so-called «Passo di San Vito», located between the villages of Santarcangelo di Romagna and Savignano.
Here, a ruined Roman bridge had been replaced by provisional wooden structures which, however, often collapsed during the
Uso (Rubicon) river floods. Fortunately, a stone bridge further north commonly served as a valid alternative.
When in 1754 this last bridge was compromised by a swelling of the river, a dispute arose between the nearby cities. In fact,
repairing the stone bridge near Santarcangelo had its convenience, but it would have been better to build a new bridge along
the consular road, restoring the traditional and faster route.
Papal officials and expert technicians took part in the discussion, including the architect Giovan Francesco Buonamici (1692-1758).
His approach to the recovery of pre-existent Roman bridge showed traits of absolute innovation: a foretaste of modernity and a
clear image of that time’s consideration for historical memory.

Keywords : Via Flaminia/Emilia, Passo di San Vito, Roman bridge, 1754 dispute, Giovan Francesco Buonamici.