Ponte del Diavolo

Below Civita, the Ponte del Diavolo crosses the Raganello river on a single humpback arch. The stone bridge is a landmark above the gorge and is associated with a local legend as well as a documented history of rebuilding.

Why it matters

The bridge stands where the Raganello gorge narrows beneath the Arbëreshë town. Its position links Civita's built landscape with the protected river valley below.

What to notice

The single arched span rises above the river, framed by steep rock walls. From the bridge, the gorge's depth and rugged profile are clearly visible. The masonry and the span's humpbacked outline make it a distinctive feature of the landscape.

Context and history

A local legend tells that a landowner bargained with the devil for a bridge built in one stormy night, then tricked him by sending a sheep across first. The municipality records a crossing in the area since the Middle Ages, though recent documentation indicates the present bridge was built or rebuilt around 1840 by a consortium of local municipalities. A storm destroyed it on 28 March 1998; it reopened after reconstruction on 25 January 2005.