Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal. It is located approximately half-way along the canal at the point where it makes a virtual 90 degree turn around the San Polo district.

There has been a bridge at this point since 1180. The first bridge, a mere pontoon, became necessary as the Rialto market increased in prosperity and floating bridges were no longer adequate.

The market, on the east bank of the Grand Canal, was once a major financial centre. The world's first ever national bank was established there in the 12th century. In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock asks for news from the Rialto.

The first pontoon bridge was known as the Ponte della Moneta because a mint was located on its eastern bank.

It was only in 1250, when the pontoon was replaced by a wooden structure, that the bridge became known as the Rialto Bridge.

The wooden bridge, consisting of two sloping ramps which met in the centre, could be raised to allow tall ships to pass. The bridge was owned by the government which leased two rows of shops alongside its central promenade from the 1420's onwards.

The wooden bridge was set alight during a riot in 1310 and collapsed under the weight of too much traffic in 1444 and 1524.

In the 16th century the government decided that a stone bridge would be preferable and several designs were submitted by the foremost architects of the day including Sansovino, Palladio and Vignola.

All these architects proposed variations on a classical design comprising a symmetrical arrangement of arches. These designs were considered unsuitable since they did not allow enough room for tall ships to pass.

Instead, the authorities opted for a stone version of the existing wooden bridge, designed by a Swiss architect, Antonio da Ponte.

The bridge, completed in 1591, possesses a single 24 foot arch. It comprises two covered platforms which join a central portico at a steep angle. The entire structure is supported by more than 12,000 wooden pilings.

Rialto Bridge (detail)

Detail of the Rialto Bridge. Image published under Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License

The bridge has a broad central promenade and two narrow corridors, one alongside each balustrade. It still possesses two rows of cramped shops which now sell tourist items including locally produced lace, leather and glass. The bridge comprises several steep flights of stairs which makes it difficult for the disabled to negotiate.

At the time of its construction few people thought that the bridge could support the weight of the portico. Indeed Vicenzo Scamozzi, the most influential architect of the day, predicted that the entire edifice would collapse.

However, the critics were proved wrong and the Rialto Bridge is now one of Venice’s chief tourist attractions.

The Rialto Bridge was the only bridge across the Grand Canal until 1854 when the Ponte dell'Accademia was constructed further downstream in order to connect the Dorsoduro and San Marco districts.

The only other bridge on the Grand Canal, the Ponte degli Scalzi, has connected the northern Santa Croce and Cannaregio districts since 1934.

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