Put away Tinder and go for a ride on this bridge that is said to bring luck to lovers.
There are things that even those who have lived in Milan for many years still don’t know: one of them is the history of Ponte delle Sirenette (Mermaid Bridge), an adorable bridge in Parco Sempione. Strolling in the park one might not even notice it: the small iron bridge is dominated by tall tress, set across a small river and crossed by thousands of people everyday. Only a few of them know that this bridge is an authentic piece of history and a powerful love ally – so it seems.
The birth of Ponte delle Sirenette officially dates back to June 23rd, 1942: the day it was inaugurated in presence of the Austrian Archduke. At that time Naviglio was still flowing across the city, and our bridge originally connected Via Borgogna to Via Mascagni crossing Via Visconti di Modrone (here’s a beautiful gallery with maps for those interested).
Photo by Alice Gemignani
According to the official website of Comune di Milano, the bridge “was realized as a pedestrian boardwalk on Naviglio di San Damiano (today Via Visconti di Modrone), it was designed by engineer Francesco Tettamanzi and melted by Rubini-Scalini-Falck company in Dongo, on Lake Como”. A significant endeavor, since it’s the first iron bridge ever made in Italy – to be fair, the effort was much appreciated in town. From the first moment, the cast-iron mermaids at the four corners of the bridge became a semi-erotic cult for the citizens, because of their inviting shapes and nudity. Usually, it doesn’t take long before someone from Milan gives you a nickname: in a short time the iron girls were named “Ghisini Sisters” and, thanks to some transitive power, their sexual appeal became a good omen for the couples passing by. For over a century, Ponte delle Sirenette was Milan’s special Tinder.
In 1930, when Navigli were extensively covered in concrete (with great sorrow of citizens today), poor Ghislini Sisters had to move to their current location. Despite the downgrading, they still play their role as promoters of free love.
