Alpine climbing School mountain & trekking guides association

ARCO TRENTINO DOLOMITES ALPS LAKE GARDA ITALY EUROPE

Phone: 0039 0464 394224 - Phone: gardacanyoning.eu - mail montebaldo@

Canyoning trekking Monte Baldo at lake Garda Trentino Italy Pont del diaol (Devil' s Bridge) Hiking Monte Baldo - Pont del diaol The Pont del diaol is intertwining legend that are travelling through centuries of history: it is said that this bold bridge was used by the devil in its night raids between the countries of the two banks of the Sorna. Other legends tell of two drunk men who met the devil on the bridge. It was said that they had been dragged down the ravine and both of them died. A little more truth seems to be the story of a mason of Corne'. He had the contract to build the bridge but as he did not succeed he made a pact with the devil, etc. The true story goes that the bridge has been restored by the austro-hungarian troops in WW I.

Probably the first Pont of diaol in history was a natural bridge consisting of a large boulder wedged between the rocks (see photo at right). The canyoning in the torrent Sorna at Monte Baldo of our Mountain Guides School began with just a lowering of 40 mt directly from the bridge into the ravine below.

Today the route demands attention as we move on the path. It is very exposed amd is leading from the bridge into the valley. Please see picture below on the left.

The Pont del diaol is intertwining legend that are travelling through centuries of history: it is said that this bold bridge was used by the devil in its night raids between the countries of the two banks of the Sorna. Other legends tell of two drunk men who met the devil on the bridge. It was said that they had been dragged down the ravine and both of them died. A little more truth seems to be the story of a mason of Corne'. He had the contract to build the bridge but as he did not succeed he made a pact with the devil, etc. The true story goes that the bridge has been restored by the austro-hungarian troops in WW I.Probably the first Pont of diaol in history was a natural bridge consisting of a large boulder wedged between the rocks (see photo at right). Theof our Mountain Guides School began with just a lowering of 40 mt directly from the bridge into the ravine below.Today the route demands attention as we move on the path. It is very exposed amd is leading from the bridge into the valley. Please see picture below on the left. Upper Pont del diaol Today the legends seem distant and absurd but the history is telling that the last witch named Mary Bertolotti had been burned alive in Brentonico on March 14th, 1716. Our so-called civilization at Lake Garda Dolomites is not really that much atavistic as we can read in the history books!

Today the legends seem distant and absurd but the history is telling that the last witch named Mary Bertolotti had been burned alive in Brentonico on March 14th, 1716. Our so-called civilization at Lake Garda Dolomites is not really that much atavistic as we can read in the history books!

The mines in the canyon Sorna Hiking Monte Baldo - the mines outside Along the valley of Sorne there were many other "productive activities". In 1850 there were 17 factories used for mills, ironworks and sawmills being driven by energy supplied free of charge from the torrent. Of course there was a network of mule tracks of access to facilitate the production. What remains of it today ... Nothing! Here, it seems like in the "day after". The forest has invaded the fields, the roads, the paths. The only traces of humans that you will find are those of a few old fisherman; otherwise only prints of animals. Along the valley of Sorne there were many other "productive activities". In 1850 there were 17 factories used for mills, ironworks and sawmills being driven by energy supplied free of charge from the torrent. Of course there was a network of mule tracks of access to facilitate the production. What remains of it today ... Nothing! Here, it seems like in the "day after". The forest has invaded the fields, the roads, the paths. The only traces of humans that you will find are those of a few old fisherman; otherwise only prints of animals. The mines inside It is only a hypothesis, bibliography and archaeological research is non-existent and perhaps it would be worthwhile to do some research. Some old men are telling that in 1800 strands of gold had been found in the torrent Sorna. Thus the peasants quit working on the fields and rushed to seek the precious metal. In 1897 the race for gold of Sorne finished due to little success. The farmes went back to cultivate their fields and gardens as well as to plant lush fruit and vegetables on the riverbanks of torrent Sorna and Lake Garda. Iron mines or coal? Everyone in the village of Corne' near Lake Garda Dolomites knows that after WW II there have been active mines to extract coal. Some say that in the Middle Ages iron had been mined there. The coal used to be carried up into the valley of chestnut trees on the back of mules. There are still visible traces of a muletrail. Visiting the mines there are evident veins of ferrite; my opinion is that these mines have provided the raw material for the construction of tools of hunters who had visitited the valleys of Trentino in the Neolithic era after the last glaciation. It is only a hypothesis, bibliography and archaeological research is non-existent and perhaps it would be worthwhile to do some research. Some old men are telling that in 1800 strands of gold had been found in the torrent Sorna. Thus the peasants quit working on the fields and rushed to seek the precious metal. In 1897 the race for gold of Sorne finished due to little success. The farmes went back to cultivate their fields and gardens as well as to plant lush fruit and vegetables on the riverbanks of torrent Sorna and Lake Garda. Iron mines or coal? Everyone in the village of Corne' near Lake Garda Dolomites knows that after WW II there have been active mines to extract coal. Some say that in the Middle Ages iron had been mined there. The coal used to be carried up into the valley of chestnut trees on the back of mules. There are still visible traces of a muletrail. Visiting the mines there are evident veins of ferrite; my opinion is that these mines have provided the raw material for the construction of tools of hunters who had visitited the valleys of Trentino in the Neolithic era after the last glaciation.