The church of SMaria antiqua . ad to Poli (itself of ancientorigin) near the Villa Catena, forming an important artery of communica-tion. That the same was the case in ancient times is certain from theexistence of tombs along its course (one, to the of Gallicano, is amassive structure of concrete, faced originally with square blocks of tufa),and from the fact that the so-called Ponte di Terra about a mile furtheren is a natural bridge over a stream, the aperture for which has beencarefully enlarged by the hand of man. The regularity and fineness ofthe work make it impossible to attribute
The church of SMaria antiqua . ad to Poli (itself of ancientorigin) near the Villa Catena, forming an important artery of communica-tion. That the same was the case in ancient times is certain from theexistence of tombs along its course (one, to the of Gallicano, is amassive structure of concrete, faced originally with square blocks of tufa),and from the fact that the so-called Ponte di Terra about a mile furtheren is a natural bridge over a stream, the aperture for which has beencarefully enlarged by the hand of man. The regularity and fineness ofthe work make it impossible to attribute it to any but Roman times,and, further, by the side of it there is a specus 60 cm. wide, cut in therock, of the shape generally adopted in ancient times ; used doubtless for Classical Topography of the Roman Campagna.—I. log drawing off water to supply some building, or else to convey drainageinto the stream. The district traversed by this road contains many remainsof villas and water reservoirs, and must have been Fig. 17.—Ponte Amato. VII.—From Cavamonte to Palestrina {from the Eighteenth to the Ttventy-third Milestone). The Via Praenestina, after emerging from the Cavamonte cutting,leaves the road to Gallicano on the left, and crosses the Ponte Amato(Fig. 17). This is among the most perfect specimens of a Roman roadbridge. Its height is about 10 m., and it has seventeen courses of opusquadratum, the blocks being 56 to 65 cm. high. The roadway measures5*65 m. (19 Roman feet) in width, the crepidines, or low parapets, 59 and60 cm. (2 feet). The construction is extremely fine, and the bridge is invery good preservation. For further details see Nibby, Analisi, iii. 629. 210 The British School at Rome. The road now turns, and ascends the opposite hill fairly steeply in direction ; upon the slope there are some remains of the ancientpavement. Before reaching the top of the ridge it crosses the line of themodern road, and runs within the enclosure wall of the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectchurchd, bookyear1902
