The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto; Venetian: Ponte de Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Connecting the sestieri (districts) of San Marco and San Polo, it has been rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in 1173, and is now a significant tourist attraction in the city.[3]
The present stone bridge, a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte, began to be constructed in 1588 and was completed in 1591.[3] It is similar to the wooden bridge it succeeded. Two ramps lead up to a central portico. On either side of the portico, the covered ramps carry rows of shops. The engineering of the bridge was considered so audacious that architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted future ruin. The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons, and top tourist attractions, in Venice.[4]
Gondoliers row past a row of gondolas on the Grand Canal near Rialto BridgeDetail of the relief of St. Mark on the bridge
The first dry crossing of the Grand Canal was a pontoon bridge built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. It was called the Ponte della Moneta, presumably because of the mint that stood near its eastern entrance.[5]
The development and importance of the Rialto market on the eastern bank increased traffic on the floating bridge, so it was replaced in 1255 by a wooden bridge.[5] This structure had two ramps meeting at a movable central section, that could be raised to allow the passage of tall ships. The connection with the market eventually led to a change of name for the bridge. During the first half of the 15th century, two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge. The rents brought an income to the State Treasury, which helped maintain the bridge.
Maintenance was vital for the timber bridge. It was partly burnt in the revolt led by Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310. In 1444, it collapsed under the weight of a crowd rushing to see the marriage of the Marquis of Ferrara[3] and it collapsed again in 1524.
The idea of rebuilding the bridge in stone was first proposed in 1503. Several projects were considered over the following decades. In 1551, the authorities requested proposals for the renewal of the Rialto Bridge, among other things. Plans were offered by famous architects, such as Jacopo Sansovino, Palladio and Vignola, but all involved a Classical approach with several arches, which was judged inappropriate to the situation. Michelangelo also was considered as designer of the bridge.[3]
Comparison of the side elevations of the Rialto Bridge and some notable bridges at the same scale (click for interactive version)
Referencesedit
^Fulton, Charles Carroll (1874). Europe Viewed Through American Spectacles. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 242. Retrieved 5 September 2008 – via Internet Archive. There being no vehicles or horses in Venice, it is simply for pedestrians.
^"Rialto Bridge". structurae.net. from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
^ abcdDupré, Judith (2017). Bridges: A History of the World's Most Spectacular Spans. New York: Hachette/Black Dog & Leventhal Press. ISBN978-0-316-47380-4.
^Povoledo, Elisabetta (30 March 2017). "3 Are Held on Suspicion of Plot to Attack Rialto Bridge in Venice". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 March 2017. The Italian police announced on Thursday that they had dismantled a suspected jihadist cell whose members had discussed blowing up the Rialto Bridge, one of the top tourist attractions in Venice
^ abMolmenti, Pompeo; Horatio Forbes Brown (13 October 1906). Venice: Its Individual Growth from the Earliest Beginnings to the Fall of the Republic. Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co. p. 29. Retrieved 5 September 2008 – via Internet Archive.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ponte di Rialto.
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The Rialto Bridge Italian Ponte di Rialto Venetian Ponte de Rialto is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice Italy Connecting the sestieri districts of San Marco and San Polo it has been rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in 1173 and is now a significant tourist attraction in the city 3 Rialto BridgeItalian Ponte di RialtoRialto Bridge crossing the Canal GrandeCoordinates45 26 17 N 12 20 10 E 45 4380 N 12 3360 E 45 4380 12 3360Carriespedestrian bridge 1 CrossesGrand CanalLocaleVenice Veneto ItalyCharacteristicsDesignstone arch bridgeWidth22 90 metres 75 1 ft 2 Height7 32 metres 24 0 ft arch only Longest span31 80 metres 104 3 ft HistoryConstruction start1588Construction end1591LocationClick the map for an interactive fullscreen view The present stone bridge a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte began to be constructed in 1588 and was completed in 1591 3 It is similar to the wooden bridge it succeeded Two ramps lead up to a central portico On either side of the portico the covered ramps carry rows of shops The engineering of the bridge was considered so audacious that architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted future ruin The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons and top tourist attractions in Venice 4 Contents 1 History 2 Other names 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Gondoliers row past a row of gondolas on the Grand Canal near Rialto Bridge nbsp Detail of the relief of St Mark on the bridge The first dry crossing of the Grand Canal was a pontoon bridge built in 1181 by Nicolo Barattieri It was called the Ponte della Moneta presumably because of the mint that stood near its eastern entrance 5 The development and importance of the Rialto market on the eastern bank increased traffic on the floating bridge so it was replaced in 1255 by a wooden bridge 5 This structure had two ramps meeting at a movable central section that could be raised to allow the passage of tall ships The connection with the market eventually led to a change of name for the bridge During the first half of the 15th century two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge The rents brought an income to the State Treasury which helped maintain the bridge Maintenance was vital for the timber bridge It was partly burnt in the revolt led by Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310 In 1444 it collapsed under the weight of a crowd rushing to see the marriage of the Marquis of Ferrara 3 and it collapsed again in 1524 The idea of rebuilding the bridge in stone was first proposed in 1503 Several projects were considered over the following decades In 1551 the authorities requested proposals for the renewal of the Rialto Bridge among other things Plans were offered by famous architects such as Jacopo Sansovino Palladio and Vignola but all involved a Classical approach with several arches which was judged inappropriate to the situation Michelangelo also was considered as designer of the bridge 3 Other names editIt was called Shylock s bridge in Robert Browning s poem A Toccata of Galuppi s See also editMiracle of the Relic of the Cross at the Ponte di Rialto depiction of wooden bridge List of buildings and structures in Venice Ponte Vecchio Kramerbrucke Pulteney Bridge nbsp Comparison of the side elevations of the Rialto Bridge and some notable bridges at the same scale click for interactive version References edit Fulton Charles Carroll 1874 Europe Viewed Through American Spectacles Philadelphia J B Lippincott amp Co p 242 Retrieved 5 September 2008 via Internet Archive There being no vehicles or horses in Venice it is simply for pedestrians Rialto Bridge structurae net Archived from the original on 14 November 2019 Retrieved 14 November 2019 a b c d Dupre Judith 2017 Bridges A History of the World s Most Spectacular Spans New York Hachette Black Dog amp Leventhal Press ISBN 978 0 316 47380 4 Povoledo Elisabetta 30 March 2017 3 Are Held on Suspicion of Plot to Attack Rialto Bridge in Venice The New York Times Retrieved 31 March 2017 The Italian police announced on Thursday that they had dismantled a suspected jihadist cell whose members had discussed blowing up the Rialto Bridge one of the top tourist attractions in Venice a b Molmenti Pompeo Horatio Forbes Brown 13 October 1906 Venice Its Individual Growth from the Earliest Beginnings to the Fall of the Republic Chicago A C McClurg amp Co p 29 Retrieved 5 September 2008 via Internet Archive External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ponte di Rialto Rialto Bridge at Structurae Satellite image from Google Maps nbsp Rialto Bridge travel guide from Wikivoyage Rialto Bridge Preceded byIl Redentore Venice landmarksRialto Bridge Succeeded bySan Giorgio Maggiore Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rialto Bridge amp oldid 1194118700, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
