Ponte del Diavolo, Medieval stone bridge in Cividale del Friuli, Italy
Ponte del Diavolo is a stone and concrete bridge spanning the Natisone River in Cividale del Friuli, measuring 50 meters (164 feet) in length. The structure rests on two asymmetrical arches supported by a central pillar that stands on a natural rock outcrop in the riverbed.
The stone structure was begun in 1442 under architect Iacopo Dugaro da Bissone, replacing a wooden crossing from the 13th century. In 1917 Italian forces destroyed it, but Austrian engineers rebuilt the span within months under Anselmo Nowak.
The name comes from an old legend claiming that locals made a pact with the devil to help with construction. Today residents and visitors cross the structure daily on foot, using it as a direct route between the two riverbanks without thinking about the old myth.
The bridge serves today as a pedestrian walkway between the two sides of town and has a path measuring 3.6 meters (12 feet) wide. Visitors should know that the railing is relatively low and the slope near the center feels steeper than at the ends.
During the reconstruction after World War I, Austrian engineers reused many of the original stones recovered from the riverbed. This reuse of authentic material makes it hard today to tell which parts are old and which are new, as both elements blend seamlessly together.
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