Venice’s Rialto Bridge – A Famous Landmark

If you’ve ever been to Venice, you’ve probably seen its most famous bridge, known as the Rialto. He probably photographed it, sailed under it in a gondola or vaporetto, or perhaps even watched the sunset from it.

The Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) was the first bridge built across the Grand Canal in Venice and for nearly three hundred years it was the only way for pedestrians to cross the canal. The original bridge, at the end of the 12th century, was a floating bridge, built by Nicolas Barattieri. The name was then called Ponte della Moneta because of the proximity of the mint on the eastern shore.

The Rialto market began to develop on the eastern side of the bridge, and this necessitated the replacement of the wooden bridge in 1255. Because of its connection with the market, the bridge eventually became known as the Rialto. With two piers inclined and built to the center, the bridge is open to allow the passage of tall ships, very similar. known bridge

In 1310 the bridge suffered a fire during the defection, and then in 1444, the wooden bridge collapsed due to the weight of the crowd during the parade. Another collapse occurred in 1524. In the following years, it was clear that the bridge needed to be replaced. Proposals for rebuilding this bridge were put forward by many famous architects, and one was even a design by Michelangelo.

In the early 15th century, two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge, and the paid-to-shop paid rent to the public treasury, which he used the money to support the bridge. Today, the shops on the bridge continue to be a focus for tourists.

The Rialto Bridge, as it stands today, is a stone bridge, similar in design to the wooden one it replaced, but without the central hole section. In 1591, after three years of construction, the Rialto Bridge is one of the most famous sights in Italy, and symbolic among the Venetians. Supported by 12,000 wooden structures, the bridge measures 94.5 feet at its longest span, and 75.1 feet across. It is 24 feet high, and connects the SanPolo region to the San Marco region.

More than a million tourists and residents walk across the bridge every day, and it is the oldest and most photographed of the four bridges crossing the Grand Canal in Venice. Small shops lining the bridge sell handmade lace, Murano glass, Venetian ceramics, linens, purses and jewelry.

Note: The steps are quite steep, and as in many places in Italy, this can cause some trouble.

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