Ponte di Rialto
Venice
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges across the Grand Canal. It was finished in 1591 to a design by Antonio da Ponte. It has a single stone arch and two rows of shops.
From a bridge of boats to a bridge of stone
Rialto comes from Rivo Altus, the high bank: the first core of Venice grew up here. In the Middle Ages people crossed the canal on a bridge of boats. Then a bridge with a moving middle part was built, to let tall ships pass.
That bridge collapsed several times. In 1588 the government chose the design by Antonio da Ponte, the only one with a single arch. The stone bridge was finished in 1591.
What to look at
The arch is 28 metres long and lets boats pass freely. On top there are three walkways, separated by two rows of shops.
All the decorations are on the sides facing the canal. On the far side stand the Evangelist and St Theodore, the city's two protectors. Tiziano Aspetti carved them.
The market and the bacari
Across the bridge lies the Rialto market, the liveliest in the city. After the fire of 1514 it was rebuilt with buildings all the same height and a square for the stalls.
In the calli around it there are many bacari, the small Venetian taverns. People stand at the counter and eat cicheti, little snacks served one at a time.
