Ponte delle Chianche
Buonalbergo (BN)
Hidden gemHistory & archaeology
The story
In the countryside of Buonalbergo stands the Ponte delle Chianche, the best-preserved bridge of the Via Traiana: arches of Roman brick still leap the stream along the route Trajan willed towards Brindisi.
Access
Free, ~1.2 km from the town
The story
The Ponte delle Chianche is one of the best-preserved Roman bridges of the Via Traiana, the road that the emperor Trajan had built around 109 AD to connect Benevento to Brindisi. It crosses a stream near Buonalbergo, and its name comes from the local dialect: the plancae, the stone paving slabs of the road surface. It belongs to the UNESCO-listed 'Via Appia. Regina Viarum'.
What to see
The bridge, with six arches (three preserved and one reconstructed), is a spectacular testimony of Roman road engineering, immersed in a silent valley bottom. Its inclusion in the UNESCO heritage of the Via Appia tells of its value: a piece of imperial road left standing for almost two thousand years.
How to get there
- Car needed
Public transport. Il trasporto pubblico in quest'area interna è limitato: i collegamenti in autobus sono radi e non sempre giornalieri. In pratica il luogo è difficilmente raggiungibile senza un mezzo proprio; per eventuali autolinee e per la stazione ferroviaria utile più vicina, verifica su Unico Campania e sui canali ufficiali degli operatori regionali (AIR Campania). · fonte: Fallback onesto — area interna, routing transit non disponibile
Tips
It is in the open countryside near Buonalbergo: it is reached by car and must be looked for a little, but the sight of the Roman bridge in the valley bottom repays it. Check the access route on site. To be combined with the other stretches of the Via Traiana in the Sannio.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ponte delle Chianche?
A Roman bridge of the Via Traiana, built around 109 AD, among the best preserved of its course, near Buonalbergo.
Is the Ponte delle Chianche a UNESCO site?
Yes, it is included in the site 'Via Appia. Regina Viarum', a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where does the name 'delle Chianche' come from?
From the local dialect: the plancae, the stone slabs that formed the Roman road surface.
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