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Rialto Bridge

Venice's First Bridge

The Rialto Bridge was completed in 1591, and this white stone arch bridge is the earliest bridge to appear on the Grand Canal in Venice. For centuries the Rialto Bridge was the commercial and trade center of Venice, and today the shops above and around the bridge are very popular with visitors.

As early as the 12th century, the first bridge appeared on the Grand Canal of Venice. After many collapses and rebuilds, from pontoons to wooden bridge, and then to stone bridge, the First Bridge in Venice evolves into today’s Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto).

The white stone arch bridge today was completed in 1591, at the first bend in the S-shaped Grand Canal, connecting the San Polo and San Marco sestieri (district) of Venice. The winding waterway and colorful buildings and boats make the Rialto Bridge The Best Viewpoint for the Grand Canal.

On the deck of the Rialto Bridge, Two Rows of Bridge Houses were built and used as shops selling souvenirs and jewelry. The bridge houses divide the bridge deck in thirds, creating three separate passages.

Manywhere Tips:
The swarm of tourists has led to incredibly expensive rents for shops on the bridge, so you can take the time to shop around and learn what the most profitable items in Italy’s retail industry are.

For the past few hundred years, the area around the Rialto Bridge has been Venice's Commercial and Trade Center. In addition to the 20 or so shops on the bridge, both sides of the bridge are lined with markets, restaurants and bars, as well as street artists. On the northeast side of the bridge, the DFS shopping center, with its global brands, is also a long-awaited destination for tourists.