Tuscany, land of immense charm for its artistic and historical heritage, but also a land rich with mystery and legends that hover in the air a little all over the place: hermitages, figures and castles. Among many legends «blowing» in Tuscany, one is offered by Ponte della Maddalena, open to view for all crossing through the Serchio valley approaching Borgo a Mozzano (Lucca).
On the Maddalena bridge, better known as the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil's bridge), an ancient legend is told with the Devil himself as the protagonist and a local master mason, who was entrusted with the task of erecting a passage between the two shores if the Serchio river.
A legend that charms and sparks our curiosity; the Devil's bridge is a beautiful example of «donkey back» bridge in classic medieval style with a peculiarity that makes it truly unique: 5 asymmetric arches and the central one that reaches a height that defies ever architectonic ingenuity.
Commissioned by Countess Matilde di Canossa who had it built around 1100, its current look is due to the reconstructions that took place around 1300.
Back to the legend, it is told that the mason, a few days from the fixed deadline for the handing over of the completed bridge over the river realised, that unfortunately he would not be able to finish in time. At this point the devil appeared before him with an enticing proposal: with his power he would complete the bridge but, in exchange for this effort, he would have received the soul of the first person to cross the bridge.
The master mason accepted his proposal, but at the same time succeeded in fooling the malign spirit having a pig cross the finished bridge first. The devil, furious, let himself go to the river's impetuous waters.
September.2002
Province of Lucca
