The Ponte del Sasso was a medieval stone bridge located near Paganico, in southern Tuscany, along the middle course of the Ombrone River. It is first mentioned in historical records in the year 1220, serving as a critical crossing point between the territories controlled by the Ardengheschi family and those of the Aldobrandeschi. The bridge played a strategic role in the control of trade and military movements through the Ombrone Valley, especially during the turbulent centuries of political fragmentation in southern Tuscany.
However, an earlier document dated 29 September 1197 (the feast of St. Michael) may represent the first reference to the Ponte del Sasso, even though the structure had not yet been built. In this act, the “Counts of the Sasso” donated several plots of land (platee de terra) to a monk of San Galgano, explicitly for the construction of a bridge. While indirect, this document provides a valuable chronological marker and insight into the initial planning and patronage behind the project.
The bridge likely collapsed during a catastrophic flood of the Ombrone in 1318, as reported in contemporary chronicles. Today, only the impressive remains of the bridgeโs piers and foundations are visible, partially concealed by dense vegetation and alluvial deposits. These ruins stand as a silent testament to the engineering knowledge of the time and the importance of river crossings in shaping medieval settlement patterns and territorial boundaries.
Archaeological and historical research in the area, particularly in connection with the IMPERO Project, has emphasized the role of the Ponte del Sasso not only as infrastructure, but as a node of connection in a broader network of communication, administration, and economic exchange.
Interconnected Mobility of People and Economy along the River Ombrone 