Ponte San Francesco

Ponte San Francesco links Caltagirone’s historic centre with the hill of San Francesco. Built between 1626 and 1666 to a design by Orazio Torriani, the bridge spans the valley with five arches.

Why it matters

The bridge connected the town’s squares with the Franciscan church and convent on the neighbouring hill. Its construction made a direct crossing between parts of Caltagirone divided by the deep ravine. The structure remains an important feature of the city’s historic layout.

What to notice

The bridge has five arches, of which the largest remains an open span. It crosses more than fifty metres of valley, rising above the ravine between the town centre and the San Francesco quarter. On clear days, the city’s guide notes, Mount Etna can be seen from the crossing.

Context and history

Work began in 1626 to a design by the Roman architect Orazio Torriani and was completed in 1666 with contributions from the Messinese architect Bonaventura Certo. The bridge was built to connect the town’s squares with the San Francesco hill, where the Franciscan church and convent stood. Caltagirone’s old town is part of the Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002.