 | Venice Bridges Reviews | 1 - 10 of 437 |  |
Since I read that the Campanile opposite San Marco tumbled down on July 14, 1902, without any warning but without victims, I am somewhat suspicious about the resistance of Venetian monuments, being aware of the soil on which they are built.
Consequently, before climbing the steps of the Rialto Bridge I gathered some information on the supposed strength of this bridge.
The previous bridge in wood collapsed in 1444 under the weight of a crowd watching a boat parade and it collapsed again in 1524.
The new stone bridge was build between 1588 and 1592 by the architect Antonio Da Ponte (a good name for building bridges).
The overall length is 48 m, width 22 m, the single arch has a width of 28 m and maximum height of 7,50 m in order to allow the Venetian galleys, among which the famous Bucentaure, nowadays the Vaporetto, to pass under the bridge.
The engineering of the single span bridge was considered so audacious that another architect Vincenzo Scamozzi, competing to get the project for himself, predicted that the bridge would collapse.
So let's have a look at the engineering as the Rialto Bridge of A. Da Ponte is still standing and apparently presents no danger for the millions of tourists climbing her steps.
For each side of the arch 6000 "pali" piles of wood with lengths between 1 and 3,50 m were used for the foundations.
The balustrade of the bridge is made of "Pietra d'Istria" a quite resistant calcareous rock of bright white colour.
No doubt the Rialto Bridge is strong, nice and practical as wanted by the Venetian authorities of the 16th c.
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There are 3 ways of crossing the steep up and down Rialto Bridge:
1° The central walkway between the shops is used by the Venetians and those tourists who just want to join Canaregio or San Marco to San Polo and San Croce without looking at the Grand Canal. All my sympathies go to the Venetians who each day have to fight their way through the crowd on this bridge. I hate this bridge because each time I had to cross the Ponte di Rialto my wife put me in front of her in order to open the path like a bulldozer or tank.
2° The smaller southern walkway with the view on the Grand Canal towards San Marco.
This is the most crowded part. Views are great if you are able to reach and maintain yourself at the parapet.
I have a tip which I hope will be rated as very useful by VT members. Climb the stairs by the larger central walkway, between the souvenir shops, at the summit of the bridge turn left in the opening portico between the shops and push with your elbows until you reach the parapet. The balustrade in stone is strong and high enough to keep tourists from falling in the Grand Canal.
3° The small northern walkway is less crowded because the Grand Canal bends here so that the view is limited and less nice than on the other side. This side is nevertheless interesting from a navigational point of view because the vaporetto's are not able to pass each other in the bend of the Canal under the bridge. No navigation incident happened during my walk on the bridge.
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Maybe I wouldn’t have looked for this bridge if it wasn’t for Sandy’s description. But I liked it and of course it is nice to see and find a bridge without parapet in Venezia and without signs “warning, don’t fall into the water – bridge does not have parapets”, lol. But on the other hand, luckily Italy in general and Venezia in special (unlike Germany and other countries) do not yet believe that their inhabitants are brain dead so that they must be warned of the obvious at almost every possible occasion.
Well, so I was looking for it and also almost gave it up, when I was walking southward from Sacca dei Misericordia, along the Canale della Misericordia and then crossing it eastward. There it is, leading over Rìo San Felice, which merges into Canale della Misericordia.
I found it quite interesting to read that there is a B&B close by, called Ponte Chiodo. Maybe it is even in located in Palazzo Chiodo, and staying there might mean to use this bridge daily :-) Leave a Comment Address: Canaregio - at Rìo San FeliceDirections: Walk south along Canale della Misericordia, and then cross the first bridge that leads eastward. Head on 50 m and there it is. Coordinates on GoogleEarth: 45°26’33,93’’ N; 12°20’05,06’’ E
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There are two strange sculptures on the Palazzo dei Camerlenghi, next to the Rialto Bridge which merit some explanation.
Between the decisions of the Senate in 1525 to build a stone bridge after the numerous collapses of the wooden Rialto bridges and the effective start of the construction in 1588 many years passed. The city of Venice had financial problems which delayed the construction of the stone bridge. The future stone bridge of the Rialto was therefore the object of numerous jokes and mocking remarks from the Venetians.
A man made a bet with Camerlenghi, a famous banker who financed Venice, that there would be no stone bridge before as he said:
“Voglio che, se ciò si farà, mi nasca un' unghia fra le eoscie !”
to which a woman added :
“Voglio che le fiamme m'abbrucino la natura !” if one day the bridge is build.
In French we would have said that the bridge would be built when: "lorsque les poules auront des dents" when the chicken will have teeth.
The Italian expressions are much more expressive and somewhat crude, I therefore hesitate to translate…
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Rialto Bridge is probably the most stunning bridge and most famous bridge in Venice. It is a definate must see. Whether you pass under it on your ride up and down the Grand Canal or whether you go to shop on it, it is quite a bridge to behold.
The bridge was built between 1588 and 1591 and was the only bridge to cross the Grand Canal until the Accademia bridge was built in 1854. Up until that point, there were only wooden bridges that spanned the Grand Canal. Today, there are only a total of three bridges including the Ponte di Rialto and the Ponte d'Accademia that span the expanse of the Grand Canal.
There are a total of three bridge walkways, the two on the outside offer a great place for tourists to watch Venetian life below and the center, larger, walkway is home to small shops that entice the visitor.
HOURS: open all the time, check stores for hours. Leave a Comment Address: Ponte di RialtoDirections: VAPORETTO: Ponte di Rialto Follow signs everywhere that direct you to Ponte di Rialto
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It was erected in 16th century to connect the Doge's prisons, or Prigioni, with the inquisitor's rooms in the main palace.
The "Bridge of Sighs" was so named for the “sighs of pain” from prisoners crossing from the palace to the dungeon-like prison....... do you believe that??? - except, of course, that the bridge was built long after summary judgments, torture, and executions had ceased in Venice. In fact by the 16th century, most of the prison inmates were held for minor crimes...
Actually, the name "Bridge of Sighs" was invented in the 19th Century, when Lord Byron helped to popularize the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of condemned prisoners as they were led through it to the executioner Leave a Comment
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Somehow I doubt this is a revelation but, "If you go to Venice you Must See the Rialto Bridge"! Built in the 16th century, this was the first bridge to be constructed across the Grand Canal. The arched portico which houses several boutiques was a later addition but definitely adds to its unique appearance.
The most complete view is surely from the water but to truly experience this piece of Venice you must walk the bridge. In the daytime it will always be crowded. More so during high season but still always busy. At night, you can enjoy a little more privacy and I think the best atmosphere.
I took this photograph from the stern of a vaporetto and I would like to thank the unnamed gondolier for having perfect timing. Leave a Comment Address: The Grand CanalDirections: If you can't find it you are in Venice, California!
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If arriving in Venice by train this bridge over the Grand Canal is probably the first one you see. Its 40m long and its 7m height provides an amazing view of the places down the Grand Canal. The first thing I have to do on arrival in Venice is stand here and drink in the view. It was named after the nearby monastery of the bare-footed monks and was built in 1934, being made of Istrrain stone to replace a former ironbridge.
I do wish they put a ramp on it though for those of us wheeling suitcases over it :-S
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There are two narrow passageways inside the bridge separate by the wall. The explanation is; one way is built for those who are going to the Council of Ten and another for those on the way back, in order to prevent prisoners or suspects checking their stories.
The legend says; the sigh was heard throughout the open windows as the last voice of condemned people on the way back to prison where they have been executed. Leave a Comment
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I loved the views of the Venetian bridges. The Ponte delle Guglie was formerly known as Ponte di Cannaregio, but lost its name when it was reconstructed in 1823 with pinnacles in each of the four corners.
In the Dorsoduro area is another well known venetian bridge - the Ponte dei Pugni - so called as this is where fights took place and the loser ended up in the canal! Look out for the stone footprints which marked the starting point of the contest.
In San Polo area is the Ponte delle Tette - this is the old "red light" district of Venice, where prostitutes displayed their "attributes" at the windows overlooking this "Bridge of Breasts". Address: Dorsoduro
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Destinations near Venice- La Giudecca, 0.79 km / 0.49 miles
- San Giorgio Maggiore, 2.50 km / 1.55 miles
- Murano, 2.73 km / 1.70 miles
- Isola di San Giorgio Maggiore, 3.05 km / 1.90 miles
- Isola di Murano, 3.61 km / 2.24 miles
- San Lazzaro, 4.03 km / 2.51 miles
- Lido, 4.67 km / 2.90 miles
- Fusina, 6.39 km / 3.97 miles
- Lido, 6.41 km / 3.98 miles
- Sant Erasmo, 6.99 km / 4.34 miles
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