Ponte di Rialto / Rialto Bridge (Venice)
N 45° 26.283 E 012° 20.156
33T E 291637 N 5035066
Stone arch of Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is one of the four bridges over the Grand Canale in Venice and also it is the oldest bridge across the canal (...and the most famous in the city).
Waymark Code: WM7D9K
Location: Veneto, Italy
Date Posted: 10/08/2009
Views: 99
Ponte di Rialto was originally the only permanent connection between the two banks of the Grand Canale in Venice. It is said that in 1172, a bridge made from barges was designed, which was then replaced with a bridge with wooden columns a few years later. This bridge was destroyed in 1310. In 1444, a new wooden bridge was built that was much bigger than the previous one and which even had shops on it.
The final Renaissance stone version of the Rialto Bridge, as we know it today, was built in the period 1588-1591 by architect Antonio da Ponte. Building the bridge was difficult due to the instability of the site and its height. The bridge's 7.3 m high and 22.9 m wide stone arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and its massive structure was built on ca 12 000 wooden pillars that still support the bridge.
It's hard to miss the Ponte di Rialto. From the train station or the Piazzale Roma, simply follow the signs to "Rialto". The same applies if you're walking from the Piazza San Marco.