Rialto Bridge - the first and most ancient bridge built at the narrowest point of the Grand Canal in Venice. The first pontoon bridge was built in 1181, the year, and was called the Ponte della Moneta, probably because of the Mint, which was located nearby. In 1255, the year in its place erected a wooden bridge, which had two inclined ramps and could divorce during the passage of ships. In those same years, a new bridge and got a new name - Rialto - the name of the local market. In the first half of the 15th century bridge was built two rows of shops whose owners pay taxes to the state treasury, which, in turn, allocates money for the Rialto. A wooden bridge maintenance required considerable resources. In 1444, the year Rialto Bridge collapsed under the weight of the crowd that had gathered on the bridge to watch the parade.

The idea of ​​building a stone bridge appeared in 1503, the year, but only half a century later on the initiative of the then doge Pasquale Cicogna it was launched. It was planned that under the arcades of the new facilities will accommodate retail shops. Interestingly, the projects of the bridge represented by such famous architects as Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola and Sansovino, but won the competition of Antonio de Ponte (fun fact - the name of the architect from Italian translates as "the bridge"). Building stone Rialto lasted from 1588 till 1591 the year - in the form, and it survives today. By the way, right up until 1854, the year the bridge was the only one thrown over the Grand Canal, and now has four such bridges.

Today the Rialto - it is one of the most famous landmarks in Venice. The bridge consists of a single arch length of 28 meters and a maximum height of 7, 5 meters. It is supported by 12 000 piles driven into the bottom of the Venice lagoon. Inside there is a souvenir shop 24, which are separated from each other by two central arches.