Ponte d’Arbia has been documented since the early Middle Ages as the ancient Via Francigena is located along the route. In particular in the itinerary of Sigeric, archbishop of Canterbury, the locality represented the XIV stage (Submansio) and was then defined Arbia. On August 24, 1313, less than a kilometer from the town, Henry VII of Luxembourg, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Dante also speaks in the Divine Comedy, died. According to historical sources, the emperor was poisoned during communion by a friar from the convent of Buonconvento. The current bridge that gives the town its name was built by the Municipality of Siena in 1388, and rebuilt in 1656 under Prince Mattia de ‘Medici, governor of Siena
