Palladian Bridge, Prior Park: Last Of Its Kind In England
Palladian Bridge in Prior Park, Bath is one of only four bridges of this design in the world and the last of its kind in England.
Arguably Prior Park’s best-known feature, the Palladian Bridge is an elegant and eye-catching piece of architecture built in 1755.
The Palladian architecture style was influenced by the works of 16th-century Venetian architect Andrea Palladio and peaked in popularity in England during the 18th century.
The iconic bridge, which was repaired in 1936, has been designated as a Grade I listed structure and Scheduled Monument.
A structure is Grade 1 listed when it is of special architectural or historic interest considered to be of national importance and therefore worth protecting.
The Palladian Bridge also featured on the cover of the 1996 album Morningrise, by Swedish progressive bank Opeth.
Andrea Palladio, who inspired the structure, was an Italian architect who was widely considered to be one of the most influential individuals in the history of architecture.
While he designed churches and palaces, he was best known for country houses and villas.
The city of Vicenza, with its 23 buildings designed by Palladio, and 24 Palladian villas of the Veneto are listed by UNESCO as part of a World Heritage Site named.
The churches of Palladio are to be found within the "Venice and its Lagoon" UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Tempieto Barbaro, built at the end of his life, was one of his most accomplished works.
The beautiful bridge in Bath can be found in Prior Park, a beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath with stunning views across the city.
Over the last two years, Prior Park Landscape Garden has undergone major restoration on its historic dams.
Built in the mid-1700s, both time and the destructive American signal crayfish had taken their toll on these structures and the dams were in need of major and expert attention.
With the construction phase of the project now complete, reflections of the Palladian Bridge can be enjoyed in the middle lake, which has been empty since 2017.
During the project, the dams were strengthened, the lakes refilled, paths reinstated, and a small cascade rebuilt to work once again – a long-lost original featur.
The meandering paths around Prior Park reveal all sorts of flora, fauna and historical features.
The beautiful garden, created by Ralph Allen, was designed to delight and surprise.
Ralph Allen was a local businessman who had Prior Park and its mansion built in the mid-18th century.
From humble beginnings, Allen became one of the wealthiest men in the country and the impressive mansion made his status clear to everyone.
Today, the gardens offer a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and a chance for you to explore nature, to play or just sit and enjoy the surroundings.
There are three lakes and dams to discover at the lower end of the garden.
The water from the Serpentine Lake at the top of the garden flows down through cascades and under the Pasture to these lakes.
In the spring and summer brightly coloured dragonflies and damselflies can be seen hovering above the lakes.
Swans, ducks and even the odd kingfisher have resided on the lakes in the past.
Writing on TripAdvisor, someone who recently visited Prior Park said: :Such a beautiful place to walk! Visited here on a recent trip to Bath and would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys being outdoors.
”Just a 10 minute bus ride from the bus station and a lovely walk back into Bath centre. Definitely worth a visit as the views over Bath and of the Palladian Bridge are stunning!”
Another person added: “Oh my goodness what an awesome experience! Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful.
”Recommend to take the HopOnBuss up to the park entrance. You can of course walk up from the city but if you prefer to save a bit of time and your self take the buss up if you have a ticket.
”Do the walk counter wise so you can walk down the path unless you want a exercise do it opposite.
”The path is nice and clear and I recommend trainers although on a summer days you can manage with sandals.”
“You will get amazing pictures! I walked back to the city and had a great pint at The White Heart greeted by friendly owners.”
It’s worth mentioning that there’s no onsite parking - visitors are advised to use the park and rides or city centre parking.
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Ralph Allen Dr, Bath BA2 5AH.
Bath is a beautiful and historic city known for its Roman-built baths and Georgian architecture.
Bath is renowned for its Georgian architecture, and two must-see examples are The Royal Crescent and The Circus.
We recommend that you take a leisurely stroll along The Royal Crescent, a row of majestic townhouses, and revel in the architectural grandeur.
The Circus, a circular space surrounded by elegant buildings, is another gem showcasing Bath's historic charm.
Of course, no visit to Bath would be complete without seeing the world famous Roman Baths!
Constructed in around 70AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex, the Roman Baths is one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world.
Incredibly, ,170,000 litres of steaming spring water, reaching 46°C, still fills the bathing site every single day!
The Roman Baths is the site of extensive ruins and an interactive museum filled with many treasures and visual snippets that transport you back to Roman times and the lives of the Aquae Sulis people.
Walk on ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago, and explore chambers historically housing changing rooms and tepid plunge pools.
Tickets must be purchased in advance via their website.
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