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The Rialto
Bridge is
the
oldest
of
the
four bridges spanning
the Grand
Canal in Venice, Italy.
Connecting
the sestieri (districts)
of San
Marco and San
Polo,
it
has
been
rebuilt
several
times
since
its
first
construction
as
a pontoon
bridge in 1173,
and
is
now
a
significant
tourist
attraction
in
the
city
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.
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. 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
rushing
to
see
the
marriage
of
the
Marquis
of
Ferrera 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. Michelangelo also
was
considered
as
designer
of
the
bridge.
The
present stone bridge,
a
single
span
designed
by Antonio
da
Ponte,
began
to
be
constructed
in
1588
and
was
completed
in
1591. It
is
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.
Today,
the
Bridge
is
one
of
the
top tourism attractions
in
Venice.
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