Umbertino Bridge

Culture, Tipical places
Ponte Umbertino - 96100 Siracusa

    Dating back to the second half of the Nineteenth century the island of Ortigia is connected to the mainland by the Umbertino Bridge.

    The bridge takes its name from Umberto I, the sovereign ruler in Italy at the time it was built after the existing Spanish fortifications that stood in the same place had been demolished.

    As an extension of “U Rettifilu”,  a name in local dialect given to Corso Umberto, consisting of a long straight line linking Ortigia to the nineteenth century neighbourhoods, as well as Foro Siracusano and the Ortigia Market.

    Umbertino Bridge is made of stone and rests on an artificial island which is the only remaining vestiges of the Spanish bastion that had stood there before to defend the island of Ortigia. Large white stone pillars form the arches; at the top stand neoclassical balustrades interspersed with wrought iron lampposts.

    This is one of the stops during the eight days of procession on the Feast of St. Lucia; here on the day the simulacrum returns to the Cathedral it is possible to watch the traditional fireworks display to mark the passage of the patron saint.
    As well as being one of the most charming stops on the Feast of St. Lucia, the bridge is also one of the 30 most beautiful bridges in Italy.