If a stone falls from an ancient monument and no-one is there to hear it, does it cease to matter? Not if the World Monuments Fund has anything to do with it. This month, the WMF, based in New York, released its 2010 World Monuments Watch List, citing 93 sites of cultural heritage that it considers to be at risk. The sites were nominated by local and international groups, and then assessed by an independent panel of international experts convened by WMF.
Ponte Lucano is an ancient bridge located in Tivoli, Italy. Still in use until only a few years ago, the bridge has a history that stretches back to the 1st century BC. For about 2,000 years, Ponte Lucano served as the road from Tivoli to Rome until the mid-20th century.
Ponte Lucano crossed over the Anio river, and its structure was designed with seven arches. But flooding has threatened to damage the bridge and its historical landscape. Efforts are being made to try and preserve the area.
