Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Ponte Vecchio Bridge is the symbol of the city of Florence, erected in the 14th century over the Arno River. Having survived dozens of floods and miraculously survived World War II, when the retreating German army blew up all the other bridges in the city, the Ponte Vecchio is a magnet for tourists. Tightly packed on both sides with expensive jewelry and souvenir stores, Florence’s oldest bridge is constantly filled with people. The Ponte Vecchio looks especially spectacular in the nighttime festive lighting, when hundreds of lights and three openings of the bridge are reflected in the waters of the Arno.

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Video: Walking on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

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History of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

The first bridge in the narrowest part of the Arno River, in the area of the ford, was built in Roman times, roughly in the 1st century B.C. Work on the river bed shortly after World War II revealed a concrete foundation placed at an angle to the banks so that the bridge could withstand the frequent destructive floods. Before 123, the width of the bridge increased to 3 meters because the Cassius Road, designed to connect Rome and the northern provinces, was built across it. Imperfect Roman architectural tricks did not save the bridge: in the VI-VII centuries it was destroyed by the combined efforts of the elements and mobs of barbarians sweeping across Italy. In the Middle Ages, the rebuilt bridge was swept away at least twice by floods. The penultimate version was built in 1177 on oak beams left over from its predecessor. The flood of 1333, the most violent in the history of the Arno, destroyed it as well.

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%’ Panorama of Florence
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‘ Street on the bridge
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Trading on the Bridge

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Architecture of the Ponte Vecchio Bridge

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‘ Vasari’s Corridor
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Bust of Cellini

‘ Ponte Vecchio Bridge

How to get there

The address of the bridge is Ponte Vecchio, Lungarno degli Archibusieri, 8/r, 50122, Firenze.

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The easiest way to get to Ponte Vecchio is by cab. You can also get there by public transportation: the Vola in Bus runs around the city, you have to get off at Piazza della Signoria. There is also the Ponte Vecchio bus stop next to the bridge, where bus routes C3 and D go.

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