Ponte di Castruccio Bridge

The antique bridge was built in 1317, the same period as the Torre di Popiglio, at a spot where three mule paths converged. It gracefully arcs over the Lima Stream, connecting the two different-level river banks. The buildings were Le Dogane, or customs houses, built by the Grand duke of Tuscany, at this point along a busy crossroads. The bridge was built by Castruccio Castracani, the lord of Lucca, a Guelph. The paths that converged here were from Lucca, Pistoia and Pescia, and Emilia. It was a busy connection point until the 1700s, making Popiglio an important wayside town.

The medieval bridge is quite a sight, and a piece of standing history, listed among Italy's "luoghi di cuore" (places of the heart) by FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano). It's a bit out-of-the-way today (ironic since it was once so bustling) but worth the trip while you're here.