Rialto Bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Rialto Bridge

---

caption = The Rialto Bridge
official_name =
carries = pedestrian bridgecite book
last = Fulton
first = Charles Carroll
authorlink =
coauthors =
editor =
others =
title = Europe Viewed Through American Spectacles
origdate =
origyear =
origmonth =
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=i0MLAAAAYAAJ
format = Google books
accessdate = 2008-09-05
accessyear =
accessmonth =
edition =
date =
year = 1874
month =
publisher = J.P. Lippincott & Co.
location = Philedelphia
language =
id =
pages = 242
chapter =
chapterurl =
quote = There being no vehicles or horses in Venice, it is simply for pedestrians.]
crosses = Canal Grande
locale = Venice, Italy
maint =
id =
design = stone arch bridge
mainspan = convert|28.80|m
length =
width = convert|22.90|m
height = convert|7.32|m
load =
clearance =
below =
traffic =
begin = 1588
complete = 1591
open =
closed =
toll =
map_cue =
map_

map_text =
map_width =
coordinates = coord|45.438037|N|12.335895|E|region:IT_type:landmark|display=inline,title
lat =
long =

The Rialto Bridge ( _it. Ponte di Rialto) is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is the oldest bridge across the canal and probably the most famous in the city.

History

The first dry crossing of the Grand Canal was a pontoon bridge built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. It was called the Ponte della Moneta, presumably because of the mint that stood near its eastern entrance.cite book
last = Molmenti
first = Pompeo
authorlink =
coauthors = Horatio Forbes Brown
editor =
others =
title = Venice: Its Individual Growth from the Earliest Beginnings to the Fall of the Republic
origdate =
origyear =
origmonth =
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=J3MKAAAAIAAJ
format = Google books
accessdate = 2008-09-05
edition =
date = 1906-10-13
year =
month =
publisher = A.C. McClurg & Co.
location = Chicago
language =
id =
pages = 29
chapter =
chapterurl =
quote =]

The development and importance of the Rialto market on the eastern bank increased traffic on the floating bridge. So it was replaced in 1255 by a wooden bridge. [url = http://books.google.com/books?id=J3MKAAAAIAAJ pages = 29] ] This structure had two inclined ramps meeting at a movable central section, that could be raised to allow the passage of tall ships. The connection with the market eventually led to a change of name for the bridge. During the first half of the 15th century two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge. The rents brought an income to the State Treasury, which helped maintain the bridge.

Maintenance was vital for the timber bridge. It was partly burnt in the revolt led by Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310. In 1444 it collapsed under the weight of a crowd watching a boat parade and it collapsed again in 1524.

The idea of rebuilding the bridge in stone was first proposed in 1503. Several projects were considered over the following decades. In 1551 the authorities requested proposals for the renewal of the Rialto Bridge, among other things. Plans were offered by famous architects such as Jacopo Sansovino, Palladio and Vignola, but all involved a Classical approach with several arches, which was judged inappropriate to the situation. Even the great Michelangelo was considered as designer of the bridge.

The present stone bridge, a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte, was finally completed in 1591. It is remarkably similar to the wooden bridge it succeeded. Two inclined ramps lead up to a central portico. On either side of the portico the covered ramps carry rows of shops. The engineering of the bridge was considered so audacious that architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted future ruin. The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons of Venice.

with the Rialto bridge to the left]

References

External links

*Structurae|id=s0000461|title=Rialto Bridge
* [http://www.invenicetoday.com/art-tour/bridges/rialto.htm Background Information] invenicetoday.com
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=venice,+italy&ll=45.438002,12.335501&spn=0.003004,0.010274&t=k&hl=en Satellite image from Google Maps]