The Ponte di Rialto is located in the very heart of Venice and connects the San Marco and San Polo districts. It spans the Grand Canal, the city's main waterway, and is the oldest of the four bridges that cross it. Today's stone structure dates from the late 16th century, but the bridge stood on the same spot long before that.
It started with a timber
The first bridge was built here in 1181 - it was made of wood and was called the Ponte della Moneta because a mint operated nearby. Over time, it collapsed or burned down several times - once under the onslaught of a crowd during a religious procession. The wooden structure simply could not withstand the hustle and bustle of the city at that time.
The present stone bridge was built between 1588 and 1591, designed by the architect Antonio da Ponte - yes, his name really does mean "bridge". The design was bold: a single wide arch with no supports. Many experts at the time claimed that the structure would not last. The opposite is true - it has stood for over 400 years.
Before building the stone bridge, Venice launched an architectural competition. Great architects such as Michelangelo and Palladio took part, but their designs were too difficult or expensive. The more practical (yet elegant) design by da Ponte won out.
The bridge as a shopping gallery
The bridge has two covered rows of shops in the middle - nowadays mainly selling jewellery, leather goods and souvenirs. But the shops were there from the beginning, and it was their rents that financed the building. The Rialto was historically the commercial centre of Venice, where spices, silk and precious metals were sold.
The Rialto as the Wall Street of Venice
The word "Rialto" comes from "Rivo Alto" - meaning "high bank". It was here that the first Venetian settlement was founded and the place became the commercial and financial centre of the city. It was even home to the Venetian Stock Exchange, so that the Ponte di Rialto connected not only the banks but also the worlds of money and commerce.
Whether you're looking at it from a gondola or crossing it with a scoop of gelato in hand, the Ponte di Rialto is more than just a beautiful bridge. It's a piece of living history that has held Venice together for centuries.
