Way off the beaten path: safe?

Ginny, Your best bet for visiting a site that's "off the well trodden path" would be to hire a local Guide, as they will not only be familiar with the location but will also know the best transportation methods. A good place to start would be to contact [email protected] (she may be busy at this time of year, so be patient for a reply). Good luck and happy travels!

Thank you. I'll try that. Everything I've read about it suggests it's not doable.

Not doable in what sense? There are a lot of guides that offer a ride to Hadrian's Villa in nearby Tivoli. There's no reason that they can't stop off at that tomb.

Ginny, you may be right. I found one website translated from Italian that said it's not accessible because of flood control work being done on the river near it. However it did say it was viewable from a distance, assumably for photos. Also, I couldn't find a date (other than 2013) so not sure how current the info was. I would check with the guide that was mentioned, or another guide for the area. They may have more current information.

Thank you all. I've read several accounts of this area, the bridge itself apparently is banked by a new high concrete wall, and by earth works, the area is now full of industrialization and construction, and access is denied or limited, the former transportation out there is now limited to bus rides with some scary characters, according to what you can find on the internet, and as Nancy says they do say it's not accessible at all, actually. I've gone to Rome for the past 25 years straight, never had to use a guide, don't have a problem on the bus to Hadrian's Villa or Tivoli, and I thought if it were possible and safe, (which neither appears to be the case) I'd like to know how to see the Ponte Lucano and Sepolcro dei Plautii; especially because until recently I had never heard of either the tomb or the bridge and apparently both have been well known, especially to artists, for centuries. I do appreciate the help and will contact the guide suggested to see if she knows. I figured somebody here might be living there and would know the situation. Thank you for your advice.

I think if I had seen this, I would not have asked the question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9cRSyIWa0M

I guess you could look at it as you were saved the time for further research and trying to get there. The websites I was able to translate did talk about the conflict between trying to save the monuments and controlling the periodic flooding of that part of the river. Guess we can see who won. I understand that we can't save everything, but it's too bad.

That is so sad. I actually have a photo I took of that tomb in 2008 as we drove by on our way to/from Hadrian's Villa. I had no idea what it was, but it was striking. So sad to see it like this. It reminds me of the sorry state of the Mausoleum of Augustus in central Rome. There just isn't enough money and there's too much corruption and bureaucracy in Italy to deal with all the rich heritage that has been passed down.

You're right, Nancy, I was notified of this by one of my Latin students who happened to see the Middleton rendering of it in a museum, and, beguiled by this, I think: http://www.romeartlover.it/Vasi81.htm I wanted to see the bridge and the tomb. How lucky you were, Michael, to get a photo of it, only a few years ago! What a change. I've seen some ruins in other countries in very neglected state, but this one so far seems the worst: it needs a patron or something. It IS sad. Have enjoyed conversing with you all. :)