Ponte del Diavolo
Ponte del Diavolo
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.0
247 reviews
Excellent
75
Very good
108
Average
50
Poor
12
Terrible
2
Rumples
Tucson, AZ11,686 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
Walking along the Maggiore Canal between the Lagoon and Torcello's historic center, we came across this concrete-and-brick arched bridge with no railings. It looks fairly new or at least recently restored but is listed as dating back to the 15th century with old foundations from the 13th century.
This "Devil's Bridge" design existed throughout Europe centuries ago, with each bridge having a legend about the devil attached to it. This one focuses on the devil appearing here yearly on Dec. 24. The full story appears on-line. Alas, we arrived here a tad too early in December to see the devil.
But we came on a beautiful sunny day and had good photo ops for this lovely span.
This "Devil's Bridge" design existed throughout Europe centuries ago, with each bridge having a legend about the devil attached to it. This one focuses on the devil appearing here yearly on Dec. 24. The full story appears on-line. Alas, we arrived here a tad too early in December to see the devil.
But we came on a beautiful sunny day and had good photo ops for this lovely span.
Written January 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ankur G
New Delhi, India140 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Without going into the historical references, we just got the pictures clicked in the hot weather and got back to the shade to save us form the Sun. But yes, it's good for getting great pictures
Written August 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony1218
Oakland, CA4 contributions
Jul 2018
One of the two bridges of Torcello is the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge), that crosses the Maggiore Canal, the waterway that connects the historic center of Torcello with the lagoon. It goes back to the fifteenth century but recent archaeological investigations have established that its foundations are grafted onto pre-existing foundations, dated thirteenth century.
The origin of the name is uncertain. Some say that “Diavoli” (Devils) was the nickname of a local family who gave the bridge its name; others say the name comes from a legend about a Venetian girl, a witch and an Austrian soldier.
The legend says the girl falls in love with a young officer during the Austrian invasion, but the union was disliked by her family, who send her away. One day the girl hears the news that the young lover has been murdered.
The girl returns to Venice and meets a witch, with whom she enters into a pact with the devil: the young Austrian in exchange for the souls of seven recently deceased Christian children.
The site of the exchange would be the Devil’s Bridge.The two women reach the island and the girl crosses the bridge with a candle and a golden coin while the witch invokes the devil. The devil, as soon as he sees the girl, spits into the water taking the gold coin, making the young Austrian appear at the other side of the bridge.
The second half of the pact had to be the delivery of the seven souls on the Devil’s Bridge, scheduled for December 24th, but the witch was murdered before the exchange by a young man who wanted to save the souls of children.
Legend has it that from that December 24th onwards, every year the devil appears on the Devil’s Bridge to get his payment, in the form of a black cat.
The main feature of the Devil’s Bridge is its shape without railings, typical of the Venetian ancient bridges, and together with the Ponte Chiodo (Nail’s Bridge) in Cannaregio, it is the only one to preserve the ancient form.
The origin of the name is uncertain. Some say that “Diavoli” (Devils) was the nickname of a local family who gave the bridge its name; others say the name comes from a legend about a Venetian girl, a witch and an Austrian soldier.
The legend says the girl falls in love with a young officer during the Austrian invasion, but the union was disliked by her family, who send her away. One day the girl hears the news that the young lover has been murdered.
The girl returns to Venice and meets a witch, with whom she enters into a pact with the devil: the young Austrian in exchange for the souls of seven recently deceased Christian children.
The site of the exchange would be the Devil’s Bridge.The two women reach the island and the girl crosses the bridge with a candle and a golden coin while the witch invokes the devil. The devil, as soon as he sees the girl, spits into the water taking the gold coin, making the young Austrian appear at the other side of the bridge.
The second half of the pact had to be the delivery of the seven souls on the Devil’s Bridge, scheduled for December 24th, but the witch was murdered before the exchange by a young man who wanted to save the souls of children.
Legend has it that from that December 24th onwards, every year the devil appears on the Devil’s Bridge to get his payment, in the form of a black cat.
The main feature of the Devil’s Bridge is its shape without railings, typical of the Venetian ancient bridges, and together with the Ponte Chiodo (Nail’s Bridge) in Cannaregio, it is the only one to preserve the ancient form.
Written July 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stefanprisacariu
Iasi, Romania990 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
A fun little stop, ofcourse a place to take some photos.
You can find it on your way from the vaporetto stop to the main basilica.
You can find it on your way from the vaporetto stop to the main basilica.
Written March 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan W
Pristina, Kosovo625 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Torcello isn't about highlights or excitement, and this stripped down rare example of an early style venetian bridge encapsulates the feel of the island. Fascinating in its simplicity.
Written July 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WMIM
Horsham, UK3,231 contributions
Apr 2014 • Solo
Most of the reviews posted here in English are for Torcello Island and don't mention this bridge. I have asked Tripadvisor to rectify this but I don't see why the so-called reviewers should be so lazy.
The story goes that a young lady fell in love with an Austrian soldier but her family killed him because they were against Austrian rule in Venice. She sought out a witch here who took pity on her and invoked the devil to bring the Austrian back to life, which he did (so presumably the lovers lived happily ever after). However, the devil's price was that the witch promise that for the next seven years she would bring him on Christmas Eve the soul of a recently-deceased child. But, the witch died soon after (divine retribution?) and to this day every Christmas Eve the devil comes to this bridge in the guise of a black cat to attempt to claim the souls he was promised.
Travellers who arrive on Torcello by vaporetto (waterbus) from nearby Murano or on tour boats cannot miss this precarious-looking structure which looks as though it would fall down as soon as anyone walks over it. It was refurbished several years ago and is perfectly safe (as long as you don't fall off!) It crosses the canal to the right of the walkway as you make your way to where the island's other attractions are. I last came here in Spring of last year and always walk over it and back.
The story goes that a young lady fell in love with an Austrian soldier but her family killed him because they were against Austrian rule in Venice. She sought out a witch here who took pity on her and invoked the devil to bring the Austrian back to life, which he did (so presumably the lovers lived happily ever after). However, the devil's price was that the witch promise that for the next seven years she would bring him on Christmas Eve the soul of a recently-deceased child. But, the witch died soon after (divine retribution?) and to this day every Christmas Eve the devil comes to this bridge in the guise of a black cat to attempt to claim the souls he was promised.
Travellers who arrive on Torcello by vaporetto (waterbus) from nearby Murano or on tour boats cannot miss this precarious-looking structure which looks as though it would fall down as soon as anyone walks over it. It was refurbished several years ago and is perfectly safe (as long as you don't fall off!) It crosses the canal to the right of the walkway as you make your way to where the island's other attractions are. I last came here in Spring of last year and always walk over it and back.
Written March 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shashank Sisinthy
Bengaluru, India98 contributions
Oct 2019
Beautiful place to go for a photo-op. It's hard to miss as one has to walk past it to reach the ruins of Torcello. The bridge is either extremely well maintained or recently spruced up as it didn't look it's age.
The legend of the Venetian girl's deal with the devil makes the visit all the more interesting.
The legend of the Venetian girl's deal with the devil makes the visit all the more interesting.
Written November 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter S
Casper, WY46 contributions
Aug 2019
Make sure you have decent traction on your shoes for this bridge. I crossed it just after it rained and slipped and broke a toenail on it. Seriously. Good traction is necessary.
Written August 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IanWithington
London, UK237 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
If you go to Torcello , take a picture on Devils bridge which is 5-10 mins walk from the boat arrival area, a few minutes past the restaurant.
Read on line why this is supposedly called Devil’s bridge, quite a story between a Italian girl who falls in love with an Austrian man.
Read on line why this is supposedly called Devil’s bridge, quite a story between a Italian girl who falls in love with an Austrian man.
Written July 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mari T
Almaty, Kazakhstan494 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
If you go to Torcello island from Venice you will surely pass by the Devil's bridge. Nobody know why it has such a name. One version says that Diavoli was a surname of one local family. However, there is a legend about this bridge - about love between one young Venetian girl and Austrian army officer. He was killed by a stranger and the girl made an agreement with the devil to save her lover.
Written April 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingPonte del Diavolo - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Ponte del Diavolo
- Hotels near Ponte del Diavolo:
- (0.03 mi) Junior Suites Venezia
- (0.14 mi) Locanda Cipriani
- (0.21 mi) Casa d'Artista Lucio Andrich
- (0.72 mi) Venissa - Wine Resort
- (0.82 mi) Casa Burano
- Restaurants near Ponte del Diavolo:
- (0.01 mi) Ristorante al Trono di Attila
- (0.06 mi) Osteria Al Ponte del Diavolo
- (0.11 mi) Villa 600
- (0.05 mi) Taverna Tipica Veneziana
- (0.13 mi) Locanda Cipriani
Ponte del Diavolo Information
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