The first on the list is the Ponte Mallio which we failed to find a few days ago but now armed with some reliable local knowledge we found it in a trice. It is still in use and supports a road, the via Flaminia (the Roman Road from Rome through to the Adriatic Coast), and which still provides access to small holdings along its route around this bridge.
Ponte Mallio with Ann in the top middle to right hand
via Flaminia supports after the bridge
The original via Flaminia
( redressed a couple of times I daresay, but the original route and road)
The next on our archeological search list was the Galleria del Furlo, a tunnel dug by the the Romans in 76AD and its forebear built in 217BC again along the via Flaminia in the Furlo Gorge but easier to find as this section of the road was still the main access road from this part of Le Marche to the coast up to 20 years ago when the Autostrada was built and the larger tunnels dug through the mountains.
We found it, drove through it, backtracked, parked the car and walked to it for photos and closer inspection and attempted to find the 217 BC tunnel. We became aware later at lunch, from the waiter, that the older tunnel was right alongside the new tunnel but gated and fenced for safety reasons. We understand you can still see the chisel marks from the 2,228 year old excavations.
The Furlo Gorge and the via Flaminio upgraded to take modern traffic
Galleria del Furlo, 76AD and the gate and fence restricting access to 217 BC tunnel
A 1072 Abbey along the Road
A fresco inside the Abbey
No comments:
Post a Comment