Ponte della Maddalena
Coordinates: 43 ° 59 ′ 9 ″ N , 10 ° 33 ′ 9 ″ E
| Ponte della Maddalena | ||
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| use | Via Francigena | |
| Crossing of | Serchio | |
| place | Borgo a Mozzano , Province of Lucca | |
| construction | Stone arch bridge | |
| overall length | 95 m | |
| width | 3.7 m | |
| Number of openings | 5 | |
| Longest span | 37.8 m | |
| Clear height | 18.5 m | |
| completion | 14th Century | |
| location | ||
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The Ponte della Maddalena ( Italian for "Magdalene Bridge "), also known as Ponte del Diavolo (Italian for "Devil's Bridge"), is a stone arch bridge from the 14th century over the Serchio River near the village of Borgo a Mozzano in the Italian province of Lucca .
history
According to a legend, Mathilde von Tuszien , the countess of Tuscany , initiated the construction.
A first bridge at this point was built between 1052 and 1115. In the 13th century this was expanded considerably under Castruccio Castracani , which resulted in its characteristic shape with the large arch. The name of the bridge is derived from an aedicula built around 1500 with the statue of Maria Magdalena , which is no longer there today. The bridge has been renovated over and over again over the centuries. As early as 1670, the Republic of Lucca passed a law that forbade the transport of millstones over the bridge in order not to damage it.
The bridge was part of the Via Francigena , which pilgrims from the Franconian Empire used on their way to Rome to the tomb of the apostles Peter and Paul .
With the construction of the Aulla Lunigiana – Lucca railway at the beginning of the 20th century, a bridge arch had to be added on the western side. Since then, the bridge has had a further elevation there to enable the railroad to pass through.
Legend
The name Ponte del Diavolo comes from a legend that is told in different versions. Most often, a version is quoted that relates to the construction of the bridge, which Julianus Hospitator was entrusted with. The work turned out to be difficult right from the start. The contractor quickly realized that he would not be able to complete the bridge on the agreed date and was on the verge of desperation. One evening when he was sitting alone on the bank of the Serchio, the devil appeared to him. The latter offered him the possibility of completing the bridge in one night on the condition that he would receive the soul of the first person to cross the bridge as a reward. The pact was made, and one night the devil lifted the vault of the great arch with his fork. The builder had remorse and confessed his pact to a priest. The latter advised him to adhere to this and, as a precaution, to drive a pig across the bridge first . The next day, the builder therefore refused entry and first drove the pig across the bridge. Legend has it that the devil was so angry about this ruse that he threw himself from the bridge into the Serchio and never appeared in the area again.
Building
The 95 m long bridge spans the river with a main arch of 37.8 m span and three smaller arches. From the east bank of the Serchio, these have spans of 8.35 m, 10 m and 14.5 m. The main arch is 18.5 m high, the smaller arches have heights of 4 m, 5 m and 7 m. On the west side of the main arch is the passage for the railway line. The bridge, which is only 3.7 m wide, follows the height of the arches and gives the bridge its characteristic appearance thanks to the very high main arch.
See also
More large medieval arch bridges
- Puente del Diablo (Martorell) (37.3 m wingspan)
- Puente de San Martín (Toledo) (40 m span)
- Pont de Nyons (40.53 m span)
- Pont du Diable (Céret) (45.45 m span)
- Ponte Scaligero (48.70 m span)
- Pont Grand (Tournon) (49.20 m span)
- Trezzo Bridge (72 m span)
