The Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Ponte Vecchio is one of the symbols of Florence, a must-see spot for tourists' memorable photos when visiting this beautiful city. Of course, it's at the top of the list of things to see in Florence!

It was the first and oldest bridge in Florence that spans the Arno River at its narrowest point. Ponte Vecchio has survived disastrous events of all kinds: the first structure, made of wood, dates back to Roman times, but was damaged several times by fires and floods, including the tragic one in 1933.

Then, in 1345, the bridge was rebuilt by Taddeo Gaddi, a disciple of Giotto, with three arches, deeper and more resistant to the fury of the water.

It is said that during World War II, its beauty even impressed Hitler, and for this reason, it was the only bridge in Florence not bombed by the Germans in 1944.

Before reaching the splendor and fame for which it is known today, Ponte Vecchio was the bridge of butchers and greengrocers.

The city authority required the butchers (macellai) to gather in the shops on the bridge to maintain the cleanliness of the downtown houses and eliminate, in this way, the odors and waste from the meat that were transported from the streets to the Arno.

When the Vasari Corridor was built (1565) above the bridge, the shops were deemed inappropriate and it was decided (in 1593) to evict the butchers to give way to artisans and goldsmiths, who still continue the traditional and renowned craft of jewelry-making, known worldwide.

In fact, in honor of the goldsmithing, a small fountain was placed on the terrace in the middle of the bridge, featuring the bust of the great master Benvenuto Cellini, the greatest Florentine goldsmith, a work by the sculptor Raffaello Romanelli.

In 1565, architect Giorgio Vasari built the Vasari Corridor for Cosimo I de' Medici to connect the political and administrative center of Palazzo Vecchio with Palazzo Pitti, then a private residence of the Medici.

The corridor, about a kilometer long, starts from Palazzo Vecchio, passes through the Uffizi Gallery, then goes above the shops, continuing along the left bank (Oltrarno) to Palazzo Pitti. During the days of liberation, the Vasari Corridor remained the only way to move between the north and south of the city.

Ponte Vecchio is a unique example of architecture, as its structure represents the continuation of the street.

It consists of three lowered archways, with the passage flanked by two rows of artisan shops, built in enclosed porticoes.

For the first time in the West, the lowered arch surpassed the Roman model that exclusively used semicircular arches and began to be imitated in various Italian and European cities, such as Venice with the Rialto Bridge.

At each of the four corners of the bridge, there were four towers controlling access: of these, only the tower of Mannelli remains today, while the tower of Rossi-Cerchi was rebuilt after the explosions of 1944.

The shops of Ponte Vecchio all overlook the central passage and each has a backroom built jutting over the river, which from the outside looks almost like it's about to fall into the water.

The glitter of gold and precious stones attracts the eyes of tourists and the pockets of the wealthier ones. In the center of the bridge, the shops are interrupted by two scenic terraces: the eastern one is topped by the famous "Vasari Corridor," while the other hosts the monument to Benvenuto Cellini, the most famous Florentine goldsmith, created by the artist Raffaello Romanelli.

Unfortunately, the trend of love locks has also struck Ponte Vecchio so even the gate of Cellini's monument has been used by lovers to hang locks and then throw the keys into the Arno, as a symbol of their indissoluble bond.

This contagious habit actually started 20 years ago with soldiers from the San Giorgio alla Costa Academy, and today it carries a fine of 50 euros.