Ponte a Sieve, Stone bridge over Sieve River between Pontassieve and San Francesco, Italy
Ponte a Sieve is a stone bridge featuring two brick arches that span across the Sieve River in Tuscany. A central stone support divides the structure and carries the weight of traffic crossing between the two banks.
Cosimo I commissioned the structure in 1555 after a previous bridge was destroyed by flooding in 1547. Stefano di San Piero supervised the construction of the replacement, which has endured for centuries.
The bridge links two communities and has served as a vital crossing point for generations of local people. It remains a place where residents naturally pass through as part of their daily routines.
Vehicles cross in one direction toward San Francesco, while pedestrians can walk from either side during daylight hours. Access is straightforward and open throughout the day without restrictions.
The structure underwent significant renovation in 1788 under Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine and later survived damage during World War II with repairs that restored it to service. These interventions reveal how the crossing remained essential through different eras.
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