The Devil’s Bridge, arch shaped, is one of the oldest and the only one, with the Ponte Chiodo of Cannaregio, to have retained the characteristics of the old Venetian bridges: it is free of parapets. There is no certainty about the origin of the name: there are those who think the name comes from a local family (Diavoli, in fact), but perhaps the name goes back to the legend spread throughout Italy during the Middle Ages, according to which many bridges were the work of the Devil, who was building in exchange for souls. The latter hypothesis seems the most likely.

The Torcello island is a quiet and sparsely populated island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. It is considered the oldest continuously populated region of Venice. Torcello is worth a visit: A magnificent Byzantine-Italian cathedral dating back to 639 A.D., the Basilica Santa Maria Assunta, looms over the island with the Bell Tower and Church of Santa Fosca alongside.

Allow 45 minutes or an hour to visit the religious buildings around the central piazza, which is a short walk along a canal from the Actv pier. Tickets are sold individually for the Basilica, the Bell Tower, and the small Archaeological Museum, but the best deal is a combination ticket that includes all three plus the use of an audioguide in the Basilica (still called the "Cathedral" by many, and still in use for weddings and religious festivals).

Ponte del Diavolo Pictures