you find it (in ruins) on the Gallo d’Oro stream

This is a story with uncertain and mysterious tones, this is the story of a man-made product whose origins are still hidden in the meanders of time and by an oral tradition that is not always verifiable.

The place where we will go today is the picturesque municipality of Campofranco which is nestled, almost dormant, on an airy and pleasant hill, on the southern slope of Mount San Paolino, a little further downstream than the neighboring municipality of Sutera and just three kilometers from crossroads that branches off from the Palermo-Agrigento expressway.

The location of Campofranco in the past it played a strategic role of great importance thanks to its proximity to significant communication routes which contributed to its historical and commercial importance over the centuries.

In the surroundings of the town, an old path, in the Auricella district, leads travelers through a panoramic and suggestive route up to the Golden Roostera stream that also receives its waters from Salito, and which finally flows into the Platani river, enriching the landscape with its natural beauty.

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And it is precisely here that it is easy to get kidnapped by one of the most fascinating elements of this place, namely the so-called Roman bridgewhose name evokes an era of ancient grandeur and engineering.

Hidden among the evocative landscapes of the Valle dei Platani, in the heart of the province of Caltanissetta, it still lies undisturbed today, testifying to the thousand-year history of a land without equal: Sicily.

This ancient artefact, testimony to past eras and events that are lost in the fog of timeis shrouded in an aura of mystery and charm.

Its role in antiquity was crucial, being part of the Itinerary of Antoninus Augustus, one of the most important road arteries of the Roman Empire that connected various cities, including Agrigento.

The origins of the bridge they date back to remote times, with hypotheses even linking it to the same Roman era, even if its official construction is dated to 1582, on pre-existing medieval structures.

Nearby, it must be said, during some excavations, they were found traces of Roman buildings, including a transit station with houses, warehouses and stables, and in all likelihood it was this that supported the hypothesis according to which the bridge was part of Antoninus Augustus’ itinerary, and that more precisely it was located along the “viam publicam qua itur Racalmuti Mulocean”, between Sutera and ancient Milocca.

However, the bridge has experienced a troubled history, marked by collapses and reconstructions. The first documented collapse dates back to 1732, when a flood devastated the region causing the collapse of the structure.

The Deputation of the Kingdom of Sicily intervened promptly, commissioning the construction of a new bridge also using Roman ashlars for the lateral arches, thus confirming the hypothesis of its ancient origin. Over the following centuries, the bridge underwent numerous restoration and reconstruction interventions, testifying to its strategic importance for local roads.

However, the floods of the river and adverse atmospheric conditions continued to undermine its stability, causing new collapses in 1931 and 1958. But the fate of the Roman bridge of Campofranco seems to have been definitively sealed in 1980, when, after warning signs of collapse , collapsed irreparably, leaving behind only the two shoulders on the banks of the river and the paved road that once crossed it.

Today, the bridge lies in ruins within the Strict Nature Reserve Monte Conca, surrounded by lush vegetation and the silence of centuries. However, its presence continues to inspire curiosity and reflections on the history and events that have shaped the destiny of this ancient Sicilian land.

Trekking lovers, pilgrims of the Magna Via Francigena, if they only wanted, could rediscover its beauty by going to the place and imagining it as it once was: proud and imposing.

What remains of the ancient Roman bridge of Campofranco represents not only a historical and cultural heritage to be preserved, but also a symbol of man’s resilience and strength in the face of nature’s adversities, despite the fact that time seems to have had the last word in the latter case.

Whether it was built by the ancient Romans or the medieval peoples who followed them, its legendary past remains shrouded in mystery, fueling the fascination of anyone who ventures to explore these ancient Sicilian lands.