Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto ) in Venice is one of the most recognizable structures in the city. The bridge crosses the Grand Canal and has a length of 48 m, a width of 22 m and a headroom of 7.50 m. The clear width of the single arc is 28.8 m. The foundations of the two abutments consist of rusting pile, each with 6,000 rammed wooden poles on either side. Located next to the Fondaco dei Tedeschi bridge connects the Sestriere San Marco San Polo to a neuralgic point. The name of the bridge refers to the area of ​​Rialto, San Polo, which was the main trading center of the city centuries ago. The name derives from Rialto Riva Alto, High shore ' from. The area is located in Venice Rialto highest above the mean high water.

History

Around 1100 still existed no bridge over the Grand Canal. The Chronica by extensum descripta by Andrea Dandolo reported the construction of a wooden bridge in 1246 under Doge Renier Zen. In the series were - due to the rapid decay of the building material or by fires - several wooden bridges built or renovated over again, until you in 1507 decided to build a bridge of stone. There followed a decade- long discussion on the financing and design of the building. The competition on the redesign by renowned architects such as Michelangelo, Andrea Palladio and Sansovino involved. Realized eventually became a bridge with a single segmental arch to the designs of Giovanni Alvise Boldú and the relatively unknown Antonio da Ponte, a more rapid flow of traffic on the heavily traveled Canal Grande enabled as a bridge with multiple arches. Moreover, this construction allowed to continue to build shops in the commercial center of the city on the bridge. The decision for their realization fell in 1588th Between 1588 and 1591 she was then built by Antonio da Ponte under Doge Pasquale Cicogna ( inscriptions and coats of arms on the sides recalled ) and released on March 20, 1591 for traffic. She was up to the construction of the Accademia Bridge in 1854 the only walk across the Grand Canal.

In front of her three other bridges were sequentially at the same location. The first was from 1181 and was built by Nicolò Barattieri. The second ( mid 13th century) was made of wood and rested on pillars. This bridge was in 1444 collapsed under the weight of a crowd that watched the wedding ceremony of the Marchese di Ferrara from here.

A collapsible into his architectural items made ​​of wood construction model had the Nuremberg Council architect Wolf Jacob Stromer. Whether it was available during the construction of the Nuremberg meat bridge as a template, is not detectable. It is today, including original shipping box in Castle Green Mountain at Altdorf near Nuremberg, which was until 1999 owned by the Stromer family.

Historical Images

Representation ( 1694 ) from a book by Maximilien Misson

Photography ( before 1882) by Carlo Naya

Watercolor (approx. 1911/12 ) by Maurice Prendergast