The most beautiful bridges in the world, which attract attention with their architecture, dimensions and histories, have only one task: to connect cities, continents and people … Bridges, which attract attention with their architectural characteristics, are have made a name for themselves for centuries with their stories. The flames that rose from the Iron Bridge in the night between 2 and 3 October once again reminded us of the importance of bridges that unite society, cultures and identity …

Like the story of a silent film, the Ponte dell’Industria, better known as the “Iron Bridge”, tells its story. A lot of water has passed under the bridge, built in 1862-1863. It has been a long, long time that someone does not stop to listen to it, to admire it. On the night between 2 and 3 October last, many Romans flocked to it. They watched him while the flames enveloped him and he, like a tired and wounded creature, with the little strength left, can still tell.

His is a story that starts from far and far in time. Like many of the Romans of yesterday and today, the Iron Bridge was not born in Rome but in England, built by a Belgian company and only finally assembled piece by piece in the Eternal city with the blessing of the Pope, Pius IX. The bridge wanted to be Roman! It wanted to show itself in its industrial uniqueness and beauty of 1863, becoming so important to them that it was the background of the joy and pain of Rome and the Romans. At first it assumed the important role of connecting by train between Rome and Civitavecchia: the first train of this route crossed it on 24 September 1863.

The bridge was an architectural masterpiece: in its central part it was initially raised to allow the steamers and ships to pass. At the same time he united two souls of this city by connecting the area relating to the Marconi district with the then industrial area of ​​Ostiense. And when these two parts of Roman society changed, the soul of the Iron Bridge also changed. When it was set aside for the transit of trains in 1911 after the construction and commissioning of the bridge of San Paolo, it adapted to be crossed by vehicles and pedestrians. It was still one of Rome’s bridges after all! And when the tragic events of the Second World War also involved the Roman population, he was not spared. He had to support the bodies of the victims and also of the murderers of ten Roman mothers killed in the desperation of procuring bread for their children. He also supported the Romans who crossed it crazy with joy at the end of the war! It has continued to do so for many years to come. Strong and solid like the Iron Bridge, one of the bridges of Rome, it should be.

Belonging to this city, it could not fail to be part of Italian cinema as well. But from the years of light-heartedness, care, attention and beauty of Totò’s films, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge. Roman society has begun to look but not to see anymore. Year after year, ethereal and futile projects have supplanted the obligation, including the moral one, to take care. Care of the Iron Bridge but which, after all, is in any case the care of events, of days, of moments of the good or bad experience of people, or of that which lives divided by the two banks of the Tiber and is united by the Iron Bridge or also that of a homeless man who has his bed under the bridge but who felt protected by it. But like in a silent film, the Iron Bridge tried to tell its story. Although weakened by the obvious neglect, he resisted, even if wounded in his soul: a part of the structure used for inspections collapsed. But their story lives on …