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The Devil's Bridge — Lanzo Torinese
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Art, Theaters and Museums 📍 Lanzo Torinese, Italy 195 views

The Devil's Bridge

Legend has it that the elders of the village of Lanzo wanted to build a bridge over the Stura to shorten the access road to the village and make communication easier, but every attempt to build that bridge foundered due to various misfortunes. They decided on the hour to make the...

Photo · Marika k.

The Devil's Bridge — Lanzo Torinese, Italy.

Location
Lanzo Torinese
Type
Art, Theaters and Museums
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About The Devil's Bridge

The Devil's Bridge - Lanzo Torinese | Secret World Trip Planner

Legend has it that the elders of the village of Lanzo wanted to build a bridge over the Stura to shorten the access road to the village and make communication easier, but every attempt to build that bridge foundered due to various misfortunes.

The Devil's Bridge - Lanzo Torinese | Secret World Trip Planner

They decided on the hour to make the classic deal with the Devil who would build the bridge in exchange for a soul. And here history repeats itself to the detriment of the poor devil who always succumbs to the cunning of the valley people on duty. Obviously the devil was tricked and instead of finding in the classic sack the man to be sacrificed he found ... some say a dog some a calf. The devil made a great racket and his footprint can, to this day, be seen near the chapel of San Rocco.

According to a more plausible story we are in 1564 and one of the most serious plagues of the time is raging. Because of the great fear of contagion, the Council of Credence of Castellania had a gate built at the top of the arch to close the bridge, forbidding the valleys of access to anyone. Beyond the gate is death, terror, the devil.

Another version: we are in 1378 and an architect asks for the devil's help to build this incredible bridge that rises above the surface of the water by as much as 15 meters - with a single arch of as much as 37 meters of span. And pr ultima another legend attributes the birth of the name to the exclamation of the locals who as a result of the taxes imposed, precisely for the construction of the bridge, by the lord of the day, Count Amedeo VII , at each glass of wine repeated "to the devil.... the bridge" annoyed at having to pay more expensive wine.

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    The Devil's Bridge
    📍 Lanzo Torinese
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  2. 02
    Afternoon
    📍 0.4 km away
  3. 03
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    📍 6.5 km away

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Frequently Asked Questions

The bridge earned its name from several legendary accounts, most famously the story that villagers made a deal with the Devil to build it in exchange for a soul—though they cleverly tricked him by substituting an animal instead. Another version claims locals repeatedly exclaimed 'to the devil with the bridge' while drinking wine, annoyed at the taxes imposed by Count Amedeo VII to fund its construction in the 14th century.
The bridge features a remarkable single arch spanning 37 meters and rises approximately 15 meters above the water's surface, which was an incredible engineering feat for its time. According to legend, an architect even sought the Devil's assistance to accomplish this impressive construction across the Stura river.
Local legend claims that when the Devil discovered he had been tricked—finding a dog or calf in a sack instead of a human soul—he threw a great tantrum, and his footprint can supposedly still be seen near the chapel of San Rocco near the bridge. This mark serves as a physical reminder of the famous trickster tale passed down through generations.
The bridge was constructed in 1564 to connect the village of Lanzo and shorten the access road, though earlier legends date it to 1378. During the 1564 construction period, a gate was built at the top of the arch to control access during a serious plague outbreak, which contributed to the bridge's dark reputation as a symbol of death and terror.
Visitors can view the impressive single-arch structure spanning the Stura river and look for the legendary Devil's footprint near the chapel of San Rocco. The bridge itself is a testament to medieval engineering, standing 15 meters above the water, and the surrounding area reflects the rich folklore and history of the Lanzo valley.

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