When we think of structures that have endured through the centuries, the mind often drifts to iconic monuments like the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or the Egyptian pyramids. Yet, there exists a quieter class of marvels—bridges that continue to fulfill the exact purpose they were designed for, right up to the present day. These ten bridges, all built by ancient hands, still welcome pedestrians, carts, or modern vehicles, proving that solid engineering never truly ages.
10 bridges built: Ancient Marvels Still in Use
10 Pons Fabricius
The Romans were masters of durable construction, and a handful of their projects still dominate the Roman landscape. If you fancy a walk through history, the Pons Fabricius in Rome offers a perfect glimpse of Roman ingenuity that has survived for over two millennia.
Erected in 62 BC by the magistrate Lucius Fabricius, the stone span likely replaced an earlier wooden crossing that succumbed to fire. Fabricius proudly inscribed his name on the bridge at four separate points, making his contribution unmistakable to anyone strolling across it.
Following a severe flood in 23 BC, the consuls Marcus Lollius and Quintus Aemilius Lepidus oversaw repairs in 21 BC. While the exact nature of their work remains unclear, scholars suspect they added a small auxiliary arch that helped divert water pressure during high‑water events—a clever tweak that may well have been pivotal to the bridge’s extraordinary longevity.
9 Ponte Vecchio
Rising from the Arno River in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio was reconstructed in 1345 after a previous wooden bridge fell victim to repeated flooding. Its enduring stone arches still dominate the city’s skyline.
The bridge’s most striking feature is its continuous row of shops that line both sides—a concept introduced at its inception and still thriving today. In the 1400s the bridge earned a dubious reputation for the foul smells emanating from fishmongers and butchers. Grand Duke Ferdinand I, eager to cleanse its image during the Renaissance, expelled the meat vendors and decreed that only goldsmiths and silversmiths could set up shop, turning the bridge into a glittering showcase for affluent visitors.
During World War II, retreating German troops demolished every Florentine bridge to slow the Allied advance. The Ponte Vecchio, however, survived because the soldiers chose to destroy its approaches rather than the structure itself, sparing this historic crossing for future generations.
8 Ponte Di Rialto
Venice’s famed Rialto crossing was rebuilt in 1591 after the previous wooden bridge collapsed under the weight of commerce. Designed by Antonio da Ponte, the project attracted fierce competition from luminaries such as Michelangelo and Palladio.
Critics of the day dismissed the new bridge as “top‑heavy and ungraceful,” a sentiment that echoed later disdain for the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, the structure’s robust 7‑metre (24‑foot) arch allowed galleys to pass beneath, while a central row of shops added both commercial vitality and structural reinforcement. Its strength proved undeniable when cannon fire was discharged from its deck during the 1797 riots.
7 Khaju Bridge
Commissioned by Shah Abbas II in 1667, the Khaju Bridge in Isfahan rests on foundations of an earlier structure. Its primary function was to span the Zayandeh River, yet the bridge also doubles as a modest dam, equipped with sluice gates to regulate water flow.
Beyond its engineering feats, the bridge became a social hotspot. Lavish tile work and vibrant paintings line its length, while a central pavilion—now a teahouse and art gallery—once offered Shah Abbas a private perch to admire the river. A stone seat within the pavilion, originally used by the Shah for contemplation, still survives as a quiet relic of its regal past.
6 Shaharah Bridge
Often dubbed the “Bridge of Sighs” (though unrelated to Venice’s famous span), the 17th‑century Shaharah Bridge stretches across a sheer 200‑metre‑deep (650‑foot) canyon, linking the peaks of Jabal al‑Emir and Jabal al‑Faish in Yemen.
The bridge was more than a convenient shortcut; it served as the sole entrance to the fortified town of Shaharah, providing a defensible choke point against Ottoman incursions. Local lore claims the bridge can be demolished at a moment’s notice, allowing villagers to isolate themselves from danger when required.
Today, the bridge draws tourists from around the globe while still functioning as a vital crossing for residents, preserving its original purpose after centuries of geopolitical upheaval.
5 Cendere Bridge
Also known as the Severan Bridge, the Cendere structure was erected in the 2nd century AD by four cities of the Kommagene region to honor Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna, and their sons Caracalla and Geta. It ranks as the second‑longest surviving Roman‑era arch bridge.
Flanking each side of the span are pairs of monumental columns representing the imperial family: Severus and Julia on one side, Caracalla and Geta on the other. The column for Geta is conspicuously missing—Caracalla, after assassinating his brother, ordered the erasure of Geta’s memory, a practice known as damnatio memoriae, which extended even to the bridge’s stonework.
4 Anji Bridge
Constructed in AD 605, the Anji Bridge—also called Zhaozhou Bridge—is celebrated as China’s oldest surviving stone bridge. Its name, meaning “Safe Crossing Bridge,” reflects the ambition of its designers to create a lasting, reliable crossing.
Renowned for possessing the world’s largest single stone arch at the time, the bridge has withstood ten major floods, eight wars, and countless earthquakes, requiring only nine documented repairs over its more than 1,400‑year lifespan. Its technical brilliance earned it recognition as the 12th milestone in international civil engineering by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
3 Ponte Sant’Angelo
Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian in AD 136, the Ponte Sant’Angelo (Bridge of the Holy Angel) was originally built to connect Rome with Hadrian’s own mausoleum, the Castel Sant’Angelo. The bridge’s name stems from the archangel Michael statue perched atop the mausoleum, a figure said to have miraculously halted a plague in 590 BC.
In 1668, the celebrated sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini enhanced the bridge by adding ten angelic statues along its length—two of which he carved himself. Each angel bears symbols of Christ’s crucifixion, such as crowns of thorns or whips, and the ensemble remains intact, offering visitors a blend of ancient utility and Baroque artistry.
2 Tarr Steps
Set in the Exmoor landscape, the Tarr Steps is a classic clapper bridge—a series of massive stone slabs laid directly atop one another without mortar. Its exact origin is shrouded in mystery, with estimates ranging from the Neolithic 3,000 BC era to medieval times; the earliest documented reference dates to the Tudor period, confirming its existence at least since the 1500s.
Local folklore claims the Devil himself constructed the bridge, vowing to kill anyone who dared cross it. To test the tale, villagers sent a cat, which allegedly vanished, followed by a vicar who negotiated a pact with the Devil: the bridge would remain open to all unless the Devil desired a sunny spot, at which point access would be revoked.
Because the bridge rests on loosely fitted stones, floodwaters have occasionally dislodged sections. To preserve its authenticity, each slab is now numbered, allowing caretakers to recover and replace them accurately after any damage, ensuring the bridge’s continuity despite repeated repairs.
1 Arkadiko Bridge
The Arkadiko Bridge in the Peloponnese stands as the world’s oldest surviving arch bridge still traversed today. Built during the Greek Bronze Age, roughly between 1300 BC and 1200 BC, it once formed part of a military road linking the ancient cities of Tiryns and Epidaurus.
With a roadway width of approximately 2.5 metres (8 feet), the bridge was wide enough to accommodate chariots, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of traffic needs. Remarkably, the entire structure consists solely of limestone boulders fitted together without any mortar—a testament to Mycenaean masonry prowess that has endured for over three millennia.
—S.E. Batt, freelance writer and author. Follow his musings on Twitter @Simon_Batt or explore his fiction at www.sebatt.com.