Ponte delle Catene

Ponte delle Catene is a suspension bridge over the Lima River in Fornoli featuring two neoclassical stone arches with iron chains supporting a wooden deck. The structure spans approximately 50 meters across the water.

An earlier stone arch built in 1317 served as the only crossing until floods destroyed it. Carlo Ludovico then commissioned this new bridge in 1840 as its replacement.

The bridge combines classical Roman forms with modern engineering, reflecting Nottolini's study of English suspension designs. Visitors can see how local architecture embraced the new techniques of that era.

The bridge connects the communities of Fornoli and Chifenti as a pedestrian crossing. Visit on a clear day to best appreciate the structure and the surrounding river landscape.

The bridge's stability depends on an underground tensioning system that controls the wrought-iron chains giving it its name. This hidden engineering, invisible to visitors, is crucial to how the structure has endured.

Location: Bagni di Lucca

Inception: 1860

GPS coordinates: 44.00614,10.56266

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:06