The stone bridges in Southern Italy: from the Roman tradition to the Middle of the 19th century

Built to ensure military and administrative control of the provinces of the Roman Empire, the consular roads had in the wall bridges their acme. The roads of Southern Italy – via Appia, via Traiana, via Popilia, via Herculia and another roads- particularly in Campania region, retain many more bridges. The structures located in the surrounding of Naples deserve special attention because of the peculiar construction material which characterizes all the bridges in this area: the pozzolana .With the fall of Empire and its fragmentation in various Stats, these roads lost their role and where in fact abandoned; nonetheless, various bridges have survived and they where the inevitable benchmark for Renaissance scholars: proportions, use of Roman arches enable the discovery of ancient forms at the utmost expression of harmony, solidness and comfort. In the 17th century, a period of great cultural ferment started in the Reign of Naples too: new sciences, exchange amongst scientific institutions, increasing trade made necessary the renewal of roads. A first state board to administer and plane bridges and roads was set up – Giunta di Direzione delle Strade- made up of dignitaries rather than technicians whose bureaucracy made development programs slow and difficult. During the Franch decade (1806-1815), a broad reform program involving all sections of public administration giving rise to the Real Corpo degli ingegneri di Ponti e Strade, which continued to operate even after the Restoration: study tours, widespread contacts amongst European technicians and scientists lead to the acquisition of new technologies and materials with the abandon of wall structures.