Latest news :: 01 • May • 2010

Historical notes of the "Rialto Bridge" - Venice

Until the nineteenth century, the "Ponte di Rialto" was the only pedestrian connection between the two shores of the Grand Canal.

The first example built in 1181 was a pontoon bridge built by "Nicholas Barattieri", called the Coin bridge probably because of the near from the northern entrance of the Mint.

When in 1250 it was replaced by a wooden building structure, change its name to Rialto Bridge, for the influence of the growing importance that commercially acquired the Rialto market. A representation of its antique look comes to us from the painting "Miracolo della Croce" of "Vittore Carpaccio".

It was a wooden bridge, of two ramps with a mobile segment in the middle, that lifted to allow higher ships to pass.

Falls for the first time in 1444, because of the multitude weight, who came to witness the passage of the bride of the Marquis of Ferrara, and for the second time in 1524.

So it was that, from 1503 was proposed the building of a single stone arch, built later by ?Antonio da Ponte? from 1588 to 1591 and takes the form and splendour with which today we admire it.

"Miracolo della croce" di Vittore Carpaccio

Historical notes:
Ponte di Rialto - Jewel
Ponte della Costituzione
Ponte dell'Accademia
Ponte degli scalzi