Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge indicates that the magnificent Venice, completely surrounded by water, bears the name of the city of bridges for a reason. There are more than 400 transport facilities located here, overhanging more than a hundred canals. But this was not always the case, for a long time the inhabitants of the ancient city moved between the islands on boats tied together. The Rialto is considered the first and most ancient bridge over the canal, it is a symbol of Venice.

History of creation

In the 12th century, it was decided to build a bridge over the Grand Canal. The location was chosen next to the narrowest point of the canal, where there was a trade center with merchants coming from all countries. Initially, the Rialto Bridge was a pontoon structure named Ponte della Moneta in honor of the nearby Mint. The residents of Venice liked the idea, and the bridge served well for hundreds of years.

After that, it was replaced by a more durable and comfortable wooden bridge. Along with the material change, the bridge received a different name: Rialto, and all thanks to the nearby market. On a more substantial structure, small shops were installed, the owners of which had to pay taxes, which were used to maintain the monumental building at that time. But the Rialto Bridge did not last long. In 1310, the miracle of engineering burned down during the uprising. It was restored, making a little more. But in 1444, it could not withstand the weight of everyone who wanted to watch the regatta being held in the canal and collapsed into the water, taking the lives of onlookers. According to another version, the bridge could not withstand the influx of people who wanted to see the wife of the Marquis of Ferrara. The bridge was rebuilt again.

Features of the Rialto Bridge

After almost 100 years, history has repeated itself. The main cause of the tragedy was the use of a short-lived tree that was constantly in the water. So in the middle of the 16th century, Venice had to think about building a more durable ferry. A competition was announced for the best Rialto bridge project. It was attended by such masters as Michelangelo and Jacopo Sansovino, but the victory was won by the unknown architect Antonio de Ponto. His vision of the bridge almost completely copied the very first surface structure, but was distinguished by the durability of the stone pillars. The locals did not really trust the new building, promising each other another collapse. But they turned out to be completely wrong: the bridge passed all the tests with honor and stands to this day, proudly towering over the water.

Short description

Today, the Rialto Bridge is one of the most popular attractions in Venice. The bridge is 48 meters long and 22 meters wide. Half of the bridge, as before, is occupied by small shops, but the price in them is much higher than in the rest of Venice. For the construction of the bridge, about 12,000 piles were driven into the bottom of the canal, on which two openwork arches are located, which seem almost weightless due to the white marble cladding and bas-reliefs. The Rialto observation deck allows you to admire the ancient city, gondolas and quite modern ships sailing under it.