Bridge of Maddalena

The name Ponte del Diavolo comes from a legend that has several versions. The most cited version is that the construction of the bridge was entrusted to Julianus Hospitator. But the work proved difficult from the start. The contractor soon realized that he would not be able to complete the bridge on time and he was close to despair. One evening, while he was sitting alone on the banks of the Serchio, the devil appeared to him. He offered to complete the bridge in one night, on 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 large arch with his fork. The builder felt guilty and confessed his pact to a priest. The priest advised him to follow this rule and, as a precaution, to drive a pig across the bridge first. The next day, the builder therefore refused to allow people to cross and drove the pig across the bridge first. According to legend, the devil was so angry at this trick that he threw himself off the bridge into the Serchio and never appeared near it again.

Pascal Brackman