The Rialto Bridge is the first and oldest bridge built at the narrowest point of the Grand Canal in Venice. The first pontoon bridge was built in 1181 and was called Ponte della Moneta, probably because of the mint that was located nearby. mint that was located nearby. In 1255 it was replaced by a wooden bridge with two sloping ramps, which could be diverted during the passage of ships. during the passage of ships. In the same years the new bridge was given a new name - Rialto - after the local market. after the local market. In the first half of the 15th century, two rows of shops were built on the bridge. two rows of shops whose owners paid a tax to the state treasury, which in turn paid money to maintain the Rialto. And maintaining of the wooden bridge required a lot of money. In 1444, the Ponte di Rialto collapsed under the weight of the crowds gathered on the bridge to watch the parade.<the idea="" of="" building="" a="" stone="" bridge="" was="" first="" conceived="" in="" 1503,="" but="" it="" not="" until="" half="" century="" later.="" only="" later,="" on="" the="" initiative="" then="" doge="" pasquale="" cicogna.="" to="" be="" realised.="" planned="" that="" under="" arcades="" new="" structure="" would="" able="" structure.="" it's="" interesting="" such="" famous="" architects="" as="" michele="" cicogna="" by="" michelangelo,="" palladio,="" vignola="" and="" sansovino,="" winner="" antonio="" de="" ponte.="" means="" "bridge"="" italian).="" construction="" ponte="" di="" rialto="" lasted="" from="" 1588="" 1591="" -="" form="" has="" reached="" our="" days.="" way,="" up="" 1854="" this="" one="" crossing="" grand="" canal.="" canal,="" today="" there="" are="" four="" bridges.=""
Today the Rialto is one of the most famous sights of Venice. The bridge consists of a single arch 28 metres long and a maximum height of 7.5 metres. It is supported by 12,000 piles driven into the bottom of the Venetian Lagoon. Inside there are 24 souvenir shops, which are separated from each other by two central arches.
