Hannibal's Bridge

There is a story full of charm and mystery, told on the banks of the Savuto River. It is the story of a bridge that has stood the test of time, dating back to the 2nd century AD. It is the Sant'Angelo Bridge, also known as Hannibal's Bridge because, according to historical sources that intersect with legend, it was crossed by the powerful Carthaginian general. It is located on the route of the glorious Via Popilia, the road that connected Capua to Reggio Calabria.

To visit it, you need to go to Scigliano, a small town located a short distance from the Altilia motorway junction. Following the signs, you enter the green Mediterranean scrub typical of the Savuto Valley, and the bridge appears on the horizon in all its majestic beauty. It is also called Sant'Angelo Bridge because there is a small church dedicated to Sant'Angelo close to the bridge. Today, the bridge is a National Historic Monument, a work of incredible ingenuity: solid, built to withstand bad weather, the floods of the Savuto river and earthquakes. It consists of an arch made of red limestone tuff blocks and is one of the oldest bridges in Italy. The arch of the bridge is about twenty-two metres long and less than four metres wide, overlooking the waters of the Savuto River from a height of twelve metres.

According to some sources, it would appear that the original bridge, which predated the current one, was destroyed by the Roman army during the Second Punic War to block Hannibal's passage and prevent him from reaching the coast. However, it was the African general's men who built a bridge identical to the previous one, using the same materials and the same architecture. The debate on the origin of the bridge is still open, but it contributes to creating an aura of legend and mystery around this structure. What is certain is that during recent restoration work, coins dating back to the Greek period and others dating back to Roman times were found.

In this place surrounded by greenery and full of charm and suggestions that recall a distant past, important and extremely realistic historical re-enactments are organised, evoking the battle between Hannibal and the Roman army, with a faithful reconstruction of the camp on the banks of the Savuto river.