In the early 18th century in St. Petersburg, on the left bank of the Fontanka was built palace, which resembled the Italian home entertainment of the era. It became known as the Italian. They held various meetings, meetings, negotiations. From the palace to the streets of the Sign (nowadays street. Rebellion) was a large garden with greenhouses, which also after a while began to call the Italian. Following the palace garden and the street was named first Italian Garden, and later Little Italy. Exit on the right bank of the Fontanka Street (in front of the palace) began to call more Italian. Accordingly, the bridge connecting the two Italian street, Big and Small, also became known as the Italian. In 1902 the street was renamed: Small Italian - in Zhukovsky street and great Italian - in Italian.

Italian bridge connects through the Griboyedov Canal and Kazansky Spassky Island Central District. It is located next to the Church of the Resurrection, better known as the Savior on Spilled Blood, and not far from the State Russian Museum (Mikhailovsky Palace), 300 meters from the metro station "Gostiny Dvor" (exit to Griboyedov Canal).

Italian bridge was built in 1896 on the site of the ferry yalichnogo. Single Span wooden structure consisted of a plank with a span of farms in the world is 19, 7 m. Author of the project - engineer LN Kolpitsyn. To maintain clearance under the bridge at both ends were built external staircases. The deck was paved with slabs xylolite. In 1902, the project K. Balda bridge rebuilt by replacing the plate xylolite boards.

In 1911-1912 GG This design has been replaced by a new project which has developed a engineer KV Efimov. Now Italian cobbled bridge has become a three-row bearings of wooden piles positioned in 2 perpendicular directions. The span of the bridge was 9, 1 meter.

In 1937, Italian bridge completely rebuilt so that through him it was possible to spend two-heating pipe. According to documents in 1946 The bridge is 18, 4 meters, the opening of the bridge - 8, 5 m, and the width between handrails - a little more than 2 meters.

Over time, the bridge came to the emergency condition. In 1955, during the repair quay, he was again rebuilt, acquired present appearance. Engineering calculations were made VS Vasilkovsky and AD Gutzeit.

Italian bridge was built in the classical style. It does not retain the original details of the decor. Decorations are very similar to other artistic elements of bridges, construction of which was carried out in the early 19th century. Bridge Railings - sectional. They are made of curved rods with capitals - pull-down buds - and decorated with cast iron pillars with additional details: peaks with a sprig of acacia, round shield with crossed swords. On billboards -pyatikonechnye stars, which were distributed as elements of decoration in the Soviet era.

Protections bridge in many ways reminiscent of the classic examples. Exterior lighting elements of the Italian Bridge - lamps and floor lamps - similar to the samples of Russian classicism and recalls, for example, floor lamps Green Bridge on the Moika. Facades bearing beams are also decorated in the classical style, but instead of sculptural ornamentation with plant or animal theme, common in classicism, the fields are separated by curved beams arcs into three parts. This is reminiscent of the entablature of the division of buildings completed in the classical style, on the frieze, architrave and cornice.

The lower and upper band beams decorated with a variety of artistic and architectural details and elements.