Continuing with a Torcello restoration report...when I was there in 2008, this little bridge was covered with scaffolding. The work is finished now and the old stones of the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil's Bridge) look great.
There are medieval "Devil's Bridges" all over Europe, and many of them have legends or folk tales connected to them. In some cases, the Devil helped the bridge builder in exchange for his soul; there are other stories in which the builder outwitted the Devil after enlisting his help. Not sure what the story is with the Torcello bridge.
This bridge is one of only two remaining in Venice that don't have guard-rails. For centuries, almost all the bridges in Venice were open-sided like this one.
The view from the fondamenta~
And the view of the fondamenta from the other side. I love that peach-colored palazzo.~
Here's Ponte Chiodo, the other bridge in Venice without side rails. You can find this one in Cannaregio and also see Katherine Hepburn take a romantic walk across it in the film "Summertime."
Comments (4)
Hi Annie, this is a wonderful and informative post. I love your photos and I wish this bridge was open when I was there in 2007. I don't remember seeing it open. That would be very cool to have crossed it. It is so interesting to learn about these Devil Bridges and that there are only two left in Venice. I don't think I have seen that movie and now I want to see it after seeing that link.
Thanks so much for sharing your photos and the background information on these bridges.
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | April 4, 2011 7:29 PM
Posted on April 4, 2011 19:29
Don't they have an elegant simplicity?
Posted by Andrew | April 5, 2011 10:09 AM
Posted on April 5, 2011 10:09
What very lovely bridges! But I can't imagine cross them, at night, in the dark, before handrails. Yikes!
Posted by sandrac | April 5, 2011 1:53 PM
Posted on April 5, 2011 13:53
Kathy, they were probably working on it when you were there in 2007. The movie is great - I think you'd really like it.
Andrew, yes they do!
Sandra, maybe that's why so many bridges in Venice have a shrine by them - to provide some light so people didn't fall in the canals back in the days before electricity and guard rails. :)
Posted by Annie | April 5, 2011 4:07 PM
Posted on April 5, 2011 16:07