Rialto Bridge

The oldest and the most famous, for many centuries even the only one, is the Rialto Bridge, one of the four bridges in Venice spanning the Grand Canal.

Being the most famous bridge in one of the most famous cities in the world, it is also, by logical consequence, one of the most famous bridges in the world. The image of this magnificent, richly decorated, single-arched stone bridge, which solemnly and elegantly spans the canal that symbolically divides the city of Venice in two, is certainly familiar to you.

It is one of those places seen a thousand times on TV, on postcards, in magazines, but that one cannot help but wish to see at least once in one’s life in person. Iconic and superlative, both in its beauty and in the quantity of people who pass through it every day, it is a symbol of the greatness of Venice in the golden age of the Serenissima and of the transformation of the city to the use and consumption of mass tourism.

Fortunately, it is still possible to be captivated by the charm of this unique architectural masterpiece, located in the heart of the city, a nerve centre of trade and muse for famous scenes in books and films. Already from afar it will impress you with its majesty, up close it will bewitch you with its precious details.

Once you arrive in the area, it is a must to make your way through the crowd to climb onto the bridge and enjoy a magnificent view of the Grand Canal. If you do this during the day, you will be amazed by the vitality of Venice and its continuous bustle of vaporetti, gondolas and boats. At night, when the hubbub of people and vehicles dies down, only a gentle lapping sound remains, and the few lights reflected on the water create a sometimes romantic, sometimes ghostly atmosphere: not to be missed!

At the Rialto Bridge, you can shop in shops between chic and kitsch, daydream while resting your elbows on the balustrade, take selfie-catching selfies or listen to the soul of Venice whispering its secrets to you. Before or after St.Mark’s Square, everyone passes through here. There are those who want to leave in a hurry and those who never want to leave again.

History of the Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge boasts a centuries-long history. It was built at the end of the 16th century to replace an earlier wooden bridge that was rebuilt on several occasions because it burned or collapsed. One of the fires that destroyed the original bridge spread throughout the district and this explains why most of the buildings that we still admire in the Rialto area today date back to the 16th century.

The first proposal to build a new bridge and replace wood with stone dates back to 1507. It took about 80 years for the project to be entrusted to Antonio da Ponte, who had already restored the Doge’s Palace in 1577, and another ten for the work to be completed.

Among the artists who proposed (rejected) designs for the Rialto bridge was Andrea Palladio, while there is no historical evidence of designs by Michelangelo, Jacopo Sansovino or Vignola.

In the 16th century, Rialto was a nerve centre of international trade and cultural exchange: merchants, philosophers, painters, musicians and craftsmen practised their profession around this area. The final design of the bridge retained two rows of shops, an element that already characterised previous wooden bridges. Initially, they were mostly goldsmiths’ and jewellers’ shops, flanked by no less than three bookshops, showing how cultured Venice was.

The covered bridge we admire today consists of one very wide archway, with two rows of shops and a two-arched portico in the centre.

The Rialto market

Next to the famous bridge is another attraction worth spending some time on: the Rialto market. Located between Campo de la Pescaria and Campo San Giacometo, it is a lively indoor market with a long tradition, probably the oldest in Venice.

Stop for a while and watch the Venetians perform their daily shopping ritual in one of the places dearest to them. Already from the early hours of the morning the stalls selling fruit, vegetables and fresh fish can count on a large number of loyal customers.

If you sleep in a flat, you can also do your shopping here and cook yourself dishes made with fresh ingredients; alternatively, stop for a spritz and cicheti (Venetian tapas) at one of the bacari (bars) around the perimeter of the market.

Tips for visiting the Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of Venice’s must-see attractions and is therefore visited by all tourists. This means that at peak times it is very crowded, and during the busiest tourist periods (e.g. Carnival or spring bridges) making your way through the crowds of visitors can be a nerve-wracking task.

To enjoy it to the fullest, the advice is to go early in the morning or in the evening, when the day-trippers have not yet arrived or have already left the city. Another option is to admire the bridge from the water during a boat or gondola trip.

Remember that the Rialto Bridge is an attraction open to the public, with no entrance fee.

Where to stay in Rialto

The sestiere of San Polo, where the Rialto bridge is located, is a good area to stay: the location is convenient (in the heart of Venice’s historic centre, with all the main tourist attractions within easy reach), there is a wide choice of bars and restaurants in the area and you can find accommodation in different price ranges.

Suitable for a special occasion, perhaps a romantic getaway, the luxury hotels around the Rialto Bridge are housed in splendid historic palazzi overlooking the Grand Canal. If you are on a tighter budget, move a little away from the banks of the canal and look for b&b and family-run hotels.

Hotels near the Rialto Bridge

How to get to the Rialto Bridge

The easiest way to reach it is on foot: calculate about 20 metres from the station and 6-7 from St Mark’s Square.

If you don’t feel like walking you can easily get to Rialto by vaporetto: there is a stop right next to the bridge, served by the main lines running 24 hours a day.

Curiosities about the Rialto Bridge

Here are some numbers and curiosities to get to know the Rialto Bridge better:

• The Rialto Bridge is 28 metres long and 22 metres wide; the average height from the water is 7.5 metres.
• From 1591 until 1854 (when the Accademia Bridge was completed), the Rialto Bridge was the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot.
• The design of the bridge was considered daring but turned out to be very successful: no maintenance work was required for over a century. The first restoration took place in 1738.
• There are 24 shops on the Rialto Bridge, 12 on each side.
• There are three pedestrian crossings: a central one, about 10 metres wide; two lateral ones, about 3 metres wide.
• To cross the bridge you have to climb 80 to 120 degrees, depending on which passageway you use and where you are coming from.
• The bas-reliefs decorating the bridge include a man with a third leg and a woman crouching in flames. According to Venetian legends, they represent two merchants opposed to the construction of the bridge because they were sceptical about its ability to bear weight.
• The bas-reliefs depicting St Mark and St Theodore are by Tiziano Aspetti, a 16th century Venetian sculptor who was very active in Venice.
• The name Rialto comes from the Latin ‘Rivus altus’, which can be translated into Italian as ‘deep canal’: this expression was probably used to indicate that the area was free from flooding.