Until half of the 19th century Ponte di Rialto was the only bridge connecting both sides of Canal Grande.
The bridge has been located in the place, where the canal goes narrower just before the sharp turning, and it happened to lie almost exactly in the middle of the city.
The first wooden bridge some nine hundred years ago replaced the temporary one made from the boats tied to each other. It is almost the rule, that in some point of its history the old wooden construction must be destroyed by the fire, and this happen in 1310 during city riots.
The next bridge collapsed under the weight of the spectators at the wedding ceremony of the Marchese di Ferrara. When the third bridge started to show the sings of deterioration, Serenissima decided to build the proper, stone one.
The story says that among many competitors for designing the bridge were Michelangelo, Palladio and Sansovino, however the construction has been commissioned to the architect with the most suitable name for the job Antonio da Ponte. The bridge has been finally build between years 1588 and 1591. The span between the highest point of bridge’s arch and water level is set to 7,5 m to allow galleys to pass below. The two lines of small shops along the balustraded footpath were added in the following century, and till the present day attract the visitors with the souvenirs from Italy.
[photo courtesy of llamnuds]
Guides: venice
