Ponte Gobbo – Abbey of San Colombano loop from Bobbio
Ponte Gobbo – Abbey of San Colombano loop from Bobbio
48
riders
Ponte Gobbo – Abbey of San Colombano loop from Bobbio
02:05
23.1km
730m
Cycling
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.
Last updated: June 26, 2026
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
Get Directions
363 m
Sanctuary of Madonna dell'Aiuto
Highlight • Religious Site
593 m
Altar of Fontanella Church
Highlight • Religious Site
Showing Translation
Tip by
702 m
Ponte Gobbo (Devil's Bridge), Bobbio
Highlight • Bridge
Showing Translation
Tip by
2.66 km
Scenic View of the Trebbia River
Highlight • Viewpoint
22.2 km
Ponte Gobbo
Highlight • Bridge
In the Middle Ages, the construction of a bridge was considered a miraculous feat. For this reason, the construction of such structures gave rise to many legends, often involving the devil: joining two places that God had wanted separated was seen by many as a "diabolical" work.
According to an ancient legend, Saint Columbanus, a 7th-century Irish monk, was eager to bring the word of God to the people living on the other bank of the Trebbia River, near the town of Bobbio. The devil promised to build the bridge in a single night, in exchange for the first mortal soul to cross it. The saint accepted. That night, the devil summoned several little devils who assisted him in the construction work, holding up the bridge's arches. The demons were of different heights, and thus the various arches of the bridge were of varying sizes.
In the morning, the devil stationed himself at the end of the bridge to demand his payment. But Saint Columbanus outwitted him by having his poor, suffering and very sick dog (some say it was a bear) cross the bridge instead of a man. The enraged devil returned to hell, but not before kicking his handiwork, which has been crooked ever since. It is said that the footprints of the unfortunate animal that served as a guinea pig still remain in the crypt of the Church of Saint Columbanus.
The Hunchback Bridge, also known as the Ponte Vecchio or, more precisely, the Devil's Bridge, is a Roman structure that has undergone numerous renovations over the centuries. The structure above dates back to the 7th century, but traces of an older bridge, dating back to before Columbanus' arrival, have been found underneath. The bridge, characterized by its undulating shape, irregular arches, and relatively narrow carriageway, is 280 meters long and connects the two banks of the river through a complicated succession of 11 irregular spans, varying in span and height, creating an undulating path from one end to the other. The Bobbio Bridge, now used only as a pedestrian crossing, is the very symbol of the city of San Colombano, as well as one of the strangest and most original architectural structures in Italy.
Source: Emilia-Romagna Region
Translated by Google •
Tip by
22.5 km
Abbey of San Colombano
Highlight • Religious Site
Translated by Google •
Tip by
23.1 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
14.7 km
3.21 km
1.75 km
1.64 km
1.60 km
160 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
16.0 km
4.96 km
1.62 km
537 m
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Elevation
Highest point (890 m)
Lowest point (250 m)
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Weather
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Sunday 12 July
31°C
21°C
0 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h
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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.
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