Abstract Integral abutment bridges (IABs) are jointless bridges where the girder or the deck is continuous and monolithically connected to the abutments. A usual and important problem in the design of IABs is how to deal with the soil–structure interaction behind the abutments and next to the foundation piles: this can be considered as a fundamental aspect to reach a thorough understanding of this type of structure, which requires iterative and nonlinear analysis. In this paper, a 2D simplified finite-element model of a real 400-metre-long IAB, built in the Province of Verona-Italy, is implemented and used to perform non-linear analyses on the bridge, the structural response of which is then examined in detail. A parametric study based on the variation of the soil properties behind the back-walls and around the piles is then performed. Furthermore, a temperature pushover analysis (non linear static analysis for positive and negative temperature variations) is carried out to assess the failure pattern of the bridge caused by a temperature change, considered as one of the key parameters in IAB design. Lastly, the effect of abutment stiffness is also discussed.