Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge connects the two banks of Canal Grande, the main transport road and tourist attractions in
Venice. As Medieval Venice was built on a host of islands, scattered in the lagoon, numerous bridges were necessary to maintain communication between the different parts of the settlement. The size and importance of the Grand Canal necessitated the construction of a bridge; however, the first facility of that type was a pontoon bridge that was replaced by a wooden one in
1250. It was too unstable and was burned and collapsed several times.
Eventually, in 1591, a new stone bridge on that place was put into
operation. The magnificent facility was designed by Antonio da Ponte and is 48
meters long and 22 metres wide and has the form of a huge arch,
allowing the passage of vessels. For a long time the Rialto Bridge was the
only bridge crossing the Grand Canal. Nowadays, there are two more
facilities, but Rialto remains the biggest and the most famous. Its
interior maintains cosy atmospheric souvenir shops.
Name: Rialto Bridge
Address: Canal Grande
see map
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