Ponte Milvio

On.the.Road

Ponte Milvio is the oldest bridge in Rome, established during the Second Punic War in 206 BC. It has been rebuilt several times and was severely damaged during the French invasion in 1849, later restored by Pope Pius IX in 1850. This site witnessed the Battle of Milvian Bridge, where Constantine the Great defeated Maxentius, leading to his control over Rome, the erection of a triumphant arch, and the endorsement of Christianity. In 2006, the novel 'Ho Voglia di Te' by Italian author Federico Moccia featured a couple locking a padlock on this bridge and throwing the key into the Tiber river as a declaration of love. The film adaptation in 2007 led to a trend among Rome's lovers to do the same, eventually causing issues for the city. In 2012, the Roman government installed chains for padlocks and removed them based on a survey suggesting the expiry of love after three years. Today, the bridge, a site of significant historical importance, has unfortunately become a haven for drug addicts and criminals.