The bridge of the Badia in Vulci: history, survey, plan, and structural restoration

In 2012, some particularly intense flooding of the River Fiora 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 pillar, and dragging them downstream. The remaining sections of the pillar are now smaller and the wall connections have been badly affected. In particular, the flood’s violence “tore off” the protective external layer, making the pillar 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 Fiora at a point where 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 flows significantly faster. This creates an obstruction that is worsened by the further obstacle of huge boulders, which have fallen off the steep banks into the riverbed. With the prospect of restoring the bridge, it was meticulously examined in order to determine the characteristics of its construction and the materials used. This study also included the history of the structure, from the remotest times to relatively recent periods, when it underwent considerable restoration. As already mentioned, the right pillar 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 process, which for safety reasons should be completed in a very short space of time, during the period when floods are statistically less common. For these reasons, and 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 pillar.