Ponte della Maddalena, Stone arch bridge in Borgo a Mozzano, Italy.
The Ponte della Maddalena is a stone arch bridge over the Serchio River in Borgo a Mozzano, Tuscany, and part of Italian national heritage. Five arches of varying sizes span the water, with the central and tallest arch forming the most striking feature and giving the structure its distinctive profile.
Countess Matilda of Tuscany ordered the construction of the bridge between 1080 and 1100 to help pilgrims cross the Serchio on their way to Rome. Around two hundred years later, Castruccio Castracani reinforced the structure and widened the roadway for increasing traffic.
The nickname Devil's Bridge comes from a regional legend claiming the devil built the tallest arch in a single night. In return, he demanded the soul of the first being to cross, but a dog was sent ahead to trick him.
The bridge can be walked across and offers viewpoints over the river and surrounding hills. The narrow roadway of just under four meters means only a few people can pass at a time, especially during busier summer months.
In the 17th century, the council of Lucca banned transporting millstones and flour sacks across the bridge to avoid damage from heavy loads. Despite this, the structure remains walkable and functional over nine hundred years later.
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