Grand Arvou Bridge, Porossan, Italy

The Bridge of Gran Arvou spans the Rû Prévôt irrigation canal, and includes a large corridor covered by flagstones.

The Grand Arvou is an arch bridge, with a span of 68.5 m and an elevation of 13,60 m between the arch's top and the ground; the distance between the roof and the base of the arch is 10,5 m. The bridge is built in mortar and small incoherent stones, with partial plastering. The plan is irregular, with a general trapezoidal shape, but without the main parallel side; the walls's thickness varies from 50 to 55 cm. The roof is covered by flagstones, which helped it resist to the centuries.

In the late 13th-early 14th century, there was a series of programs aiming to improve the irrigation level in Aosta Valley, due to increased demand of animal husbandry. One of this was the construction of canal, the Rû Prévôt, by will of Henry of Quart, provost (hence the name) of the Aosta Cathedral. This included also the couple of bridge-aqueducts which are now visible.

The income of the canal exploitation was later acquired by the Dukes (later Kings) of Savoy. In the 20th century, the canal was mostly channeled into pipes.

References:

Wikipedia

Miscellaneous historic sites in Italy

User Reviews

Marta (2 years ago)
Very suggestive, well preserved... the walk to reach it is pleasant and undemanding

Mauro Nascarella (3 years ago)
Well preserved medieval bridge. Too bad you can't go along it, the visit would have been more suggestive. If you park in the right spot, you can walk there in less than 5 minutes. If you enter Corsica as a food reference, immediately after there is a street on the left with a small free car park. Already from the parking lot you can admire the bridge. Leaving the car park, return to the main uphill road, pass the hairpin bend to the right and before the next hairpin bend to the left, take a dirt road on the left. At that point you continue straight and you arrive at your destination in a couple of minutes

Brenda Castro (3 years ago)
Very nice site, not very touristy. You arrive by bus 6, get off and go to the entrance from the path, it is located to the right of the aqueduct, it is not signposted.

Francesco Sinacori (3 years ago)
Beautiful architecture, a pity that the locals do not look kindly on those who go to visit it, I say this because at the beginning of the road that crosses a small group of houses, they have placed a sign with the inscription, private property forbidden to access. But the path passes right by that road.

Simo B (3 years ago)
Place badly marked with google ... we could not park to find the path ... the municipality did not even put the signs

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.

Grand Arvou Bridge

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople