Known to locals as the “Ponte Vecchio” (Old Bridge), the Ponte Azzone Visconti crosses the Adda exactly where the Lecco branch of Lake Como ends and the river begins — a passage that Manzoni himself, in The Betrothed, describes as the boundary between the two waters.
History
The bridge was built between 1336 and 1338 for Azzone Visconti, lord of Milan, to connect Lecco, the Valsassina and the Duchy of Milan, ensuring both the passage of people and goods and the military defence of the town. Originally built with eight round arches, to which two more were added shortly after the first phase of works and a further one in the 15th century, it was fitted from the start with defensive structures — towers with drawbridges at each end, a small fortified turret with a central tower, and a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
In 1799, during the Battle of Lecco, retreating French troops demolished the last arch to slow the enemy’s advance; it was only rebuilt at the end of the Napoleonic period. In the 19th century the side towers were pulled down to allow carts to pass more easily, while further works to widen the roadway in the 20th century altered its medieval appearance even more. Today the bridge has eleven arches, is 131 metres long and 9.05 metres wide.
What to see
Despite the many alterations, the bridge remains one of Lecco’s symbolic monuments, on the boundary between the historic centre and the district of Pescarenico, reached by crossing it.
Getting there
The bridge connects the historic centre of Lecco to Pescarenico, along the route of the Manzonian Lecco itinerary.
Practical information
The bridge is a public road, always accessible on foot and by car.