Azzone Visconti Bridge
Medieval bridge in Lecco, Lombardy, Italy From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Azzone Visconti Bridge is a medieval bridge over the Adda River at Lecco in Lombardy, Italy. It was built by Azzone Visconti, Lord of Milan, in the first half of the 14th century to connect Lecco to the road leading to Milan. Initially, it had towers and drawbridges controlling the city's entrance. Over the following centuries, it underwent demolitions and restorations.
Azzone Visconti Bridge | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Azzone Visconti Bridge seen from north | |
| Coordinates | 45°50′50″N 9°23′33″E |
| Carries | Two-lane car road, one pedestrian lane |
| Crosses | Adda River |
| Locale | Lecco |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Multi-span arch bridge |
| Material | Stone |
| Total length | 131 metres (430 ft) |
| Width | 9.05 metres (29.7 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | unknown |
| Constructed by | Azzone Visconti |
| Opened | 1338 |
| Location | |
 | |
Today, the Azzone Visconti Bridge is open to two car lanes and continues to serve as a bridge connecting Lecco with the opposite bank of the Adda.[1][2]
In 1335, Lecco spontaneously submitted to the lordship of Azzone Visconti, lord of Milan since 1328. Around 1336, Azzone built the bridge over the Adda River to connect Lecco with the road leading to Milan.[3][4]
The bridge had eight arches of unequal widths. It had two towers, each with a drawbridge, which controlled the passage and entrance to Lecco. In the center of the bridge, there was a small fortress. The fortifications of the bridge completed the defense of Lecco.[2][1][5]
Between 1349 and 1354, Giovanni Visconti, archbishop and lord of Milan, had two spans added on the western side. In the 15th century, the Como inhabitants, suffering from flooding from the lake, claimed that the bridge was to blame, as it limited the water discharge into the Adda. At their expense, an additional span was therefore added.[1][5]
In 1909–1910, despite the contrary opinion of the authority in charge of monument preservation, the bridge was widened by inserting iron brackets on the sides, knocking down the walls of the two parapets. The bridge width became 9.05 metres (29.7 ft).[6]
Local scholars have traditionally identified the bridge depicted by Leonardo da Vinci behind the Mona Lisa with the Azzone Visconti bridge.
Leonardo frequently visited the Adda Valley up to Lecco and undoubtedly saw the bridge.[7] South of Lecco, the rocky landscape along the Adda Valley also inspired Leonardo to create the background of the two versions of the Virgin of the Rocks, now held in Paris and London museums.[8]
The geology of the landscape depicted in Mona Lisa's background is comparable to that of the lake and mountains of Lecco, confirming that the bridge depicted by Leonardo was the Azzone Visconti bridge.[9]
Another similarity between Leonardo's and the Azzone Visconti bridge is the different widths of the arches.[10]
_-_Louvre_779_-_Detail_(right_landscape).jpg)
The bridge still serves to cross the Adda River with two car lanes and one pedestrian lane. It has a total length of 131 metres (430 ft).[11][2]
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