The Ponte Vecchio, ‘Old Bridge’ that crosses the Arno River in Florence is an important historic monument of the city. It’s built in typical medieval fashion; a closed spandrel segmental arched bridge.
Stay in a lovely vacation rental in Florence where you can tour around this Renaissance city and cross over the famous Ponte Vecchio yourself to admire it in all its glory! Across it, a row of shops are built on either side of the road that adds to its animated presence. Once a street of busy butchers, most of the shops on Ponte Vecchio are now owned by art dealers, souvenir shops and jewellers.
Stay in a lovely vacation rental in Florence where you can tour around this Renaissance city and cross over the famous Ponte Vecchio yourself to admire it in all its glory! Across it, a row of shops are built on either side of the road that adds to its animated presence. Once a street of busy butchers, most of the shops on Ponte Vecchio are now owned by art dealers, souvenir shops and jewellers.
A bridge crossing at the Arno’s narrowest point is believed to have existed here since Roman times. Then a massive flood destroyed it in 1117 and again in 1333 despite a sturdier stone rebuild.
The one that tourists see before them today was rebuilt in 1345 with three segmental arches and have successfully withstood the test of time ever since.
There have always been shops here where merchants displayed some of the goods of their shops on tables lining the sides of the crossing street.
The one that tourists see before them today was rebuilt in 1345 with three segmental arches and have successfully withstood the test of time ever since.
There have always been shops here where merchants displayed some of the goods of their shops on tables lining the sides of the crossing street.
It’s believed that the term ‘bankruptcy’ was coined here. When a merchant could not pay his taxes or other debts, his goods (banco) were physically smashed to pieces (rotto) by government soldiers. The word either derived from ‘bancorotto’ meaning broken table or ‘banca rotta’ meaning broken bank. No table, no sales, no money!
The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that wasn’t destroyed in Florence during World War II, allegedly because of a direct order by Hitler! This mesmerising bridge connects to other historical gems of Florence. Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio are all connected via Vasari’s ornate corridor. Come and walk across this beautiful bridge for yourself and soak in its elaborate history!
The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge that wasn’t destroyed in Florence during World War II, allegedly because of a direct order by Hitler! This mesmerising bridge connects to other historical gems of Florence. Palazzo Pitti, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio are all connected via Vasari’s ornate corridor. Come and walk across this beautiful bridge for yourself and soak in its elaborate history!
Photo credits
picture 1: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: PhattyFatt / CC BY-SA 2.5;
picture 3: Freepenguin / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Meho29 / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: PhattyFatt / CC BY-SA 2.5;
picture 3: Freepenguin / CC BY-SA 3.0
