Ponte di Rialto
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Map.
For centuries, the Grand Canal was spanned by nothing more than a simple, wooden bridge (which had a central drawbridge). This situation changed at the end of the 16th century when the Ponte di Rialto was built by the appropriately-named Antonio da Ponte (1512-95). Da Ponte, who was a Swiss-born engineer and architect, saw off stiff competition from such heavyweights as Michelangelo, Sansovino and Palladio.
His design was probably selected because all the others adopted a classical approach, which involved several arches. Da Ponte's single span (28 meters) was deemed more appropriate to the location, although there were many who thought the design too audacious and predicted its immediate collapse. The authorities may have also warmed to the money-making opportunities the design afforded, for Da Ponte's bridge is really a street suspended in the air. The central thoroughfare is lined with shops on either side. One side of the bridge is decorated with images of the Archangel Gabriel, the dove of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, the work of Agostino Rubini. The other side bears the figures of two of Venice's patron saints, Mark and Theodore, the work of Tiziano Aspetti. For centuries a small ferry used to ply a good trade at this point, sparing people the effort of climbing the bridge's steps. Nicolo Starantonio was responsible for building, at the end of the 12th century, the first bridge across the Grand Canal. It was made up of boats tied together on top of which were laid wooden planks. It was called the Ponte del Quartorolo, in memory of the toll of the traghetto (ferry), which was un quarto di soldo. In 1265 the Ponte del Quartorolo was replaced by a wooden bridge suspended on stilts. Almost two centuries later, in 1444, this bridge collapsed when too many people crowded onto it to watch a grand spectacle, which was taking place on the canal. The bridge was rebuilt on a larger scale with workshops at the side and a drawbridge in the centre. The word rialto comes from rivo alto or high bank, for this slightly higher area of ground was the location for one of the earliest settlements. |
Ponte di Rialto
Ponte di Rialto in the Barbari Map, 1500
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