The San Francesco di Paola Swivel Bridge is one of the most recognizable symbols of Taranto. It connects the Isola del Borgo Antico to the Borgo Nuovo, spanning the navigable canal that connects the Mar Grande to the Mar Piccolo....Read more
The San Francesco di Paola Swivel Bridge is one of the most recognizable symbols of Taranto. It connects the Isola del Borgo Antico to the Borgo Nuovo, spanning the navigable canal that connects the Mar Grande to the Mar Piccolo. It is a mobile metal bridge with two arms, capable of rotating laterally to allow the passage of naval units, especially those heading to or coming from the Military Arsenal and the Navy bases. Today it serves a dual function: it is a key vehicular and pedestrian axis for the city and, at the same time, a strategic infrastructure for military and civilian navigation. The first version of the bridge was inaugurated in 1887, during a period of significant urban transformation linked to the development of the Navy and the Arsenal. The current structure, rebuilt and modernized in the twentieth century, retains its original role as a hinge between the two parts of the city. Its opening, performed by rotating the two half-bridges, is a spectacular and highly photographed moment, which has become part of the collective imagination of the people of Taranto. From a cultural perspective, the bridge represents the link between ancient Taranto, with its narrow streets, churches, and historical buildings, and the modern city facing the seafront. For visitors, it is an ideal tourist attraction to observe the canal, the Aragonese Castle, the Mar Piccolo, and the naval traffic. Nearby, one can walk to the historic center, the Cathedral of San Cataldo, the Vittorio Emanuele III seafront, and the MArTA, the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto. It is advisable to inquire about the opening hours of the bridge, a particularly suggestive event especially at sunset or during the passage of large ships.
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