[2] The Ponte San Lorenzo was one of four Roman bridges in ancient Padua crossing the Medoacus (modern Bacchiglione).

[3] Located in the Via San Francesco, the three-arched bridge is today for the most part framed by surrounding buildings, which have moved closer to the river over the centuries.

[3] Only its eastern arch spanning the restricted waterway was largely visible until the middle of the 20th century, when it too disappeared from view as the remaining canal was filled up to the Riviera del Ponti Romani street.

Small piers offer less resistance to the water flow, thus reducing the risk of undermined foundations.

[8] The pier thickness of the Ponte San Lorenzo measures only 1.72 m, which corresponds to no more than one eighth of the span of the central opening,[3] a value not to be achieved again until the High Middle Ages.