Rialto Bridge, this is the great icon of the Grand Canal in Venice

Surely you already know that St. Mark's Square It is the true heart of the beautiful city Venice.

But there is another point that has also become a icon of it and its image is part of the most popular postcards of the city ​​of canals.

Specifically, I am referring to Rialto bridge in the Great channel, which concentrates a great attraction on the part of all the tourists who we visit Venice.

El Rialto bridge Not only is it the most famous of the many bridges you will encounter during your visit of Venice, but also the oldest bridge of the four currently crossing the Great channel.

When you go sailing on a vaporetto along the Grand Canal in Venice and you reach the curve from where you can already see the Rialto bridgeI assure you that you will be impressed by its great beauty.

Curiosities about the history of the Rialto Bridge

This large stone bridge, with a single arch, but with two ramps that converge in a central portico, maintains the configuration of the original wooden bridge built in 1250.

This wooden bridge had a mobile central part that rose to allow ships to pass, and was built to replace a first floating structure bridge which was set up in the year 1211.

That wooden bridge came to be called “Rialto” due to the influence of the nearby Rialto Market.

After successive collapses and reconstructions of the wooden bridge, finally in 1592. the current one was built stone bridge single arch with the design of Antonio da Ponte.

What are the dimensions of the Rialto Bridge

With a longitud of 48 meters and a Height of 7,5 meters, Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal connect the two sides of Venice: the sestiere of San Marco and sestiere of San Polo.

In the new bridge, the elevation of its ramps was maintained, with a maximum span height of 7,5 meters.

Over the years, the bridge has undergone several renovations and restorations to maintain its structural integrity and preserve its original appearance.

In addition to its history and architecture, the Rialto bridge It is surrounded by various curiosities.

For many years, the bridge was the only permanent crossing over the Grand Canal and served as an important transportation artery for Venetians, until the original one was built Accademia BridgeIn 1854.

One of the most notable curiosities of Rialto bridge It is the tradition of lovers who seal their love by hanging a padlock on the railings of the bridge.

This custom has become popular in many cities around the world, but is said to have originated in Venice.

Rialto Market schedules in Venice

One of the striking features of the Rialto Bridge are stores which are located on both sides of its ramps, which give a very commercial atmosphere to the area, as an extension of the nearby Rialto Market.

It is a market of great antiquity as it dates back to the origins of the city of Venice.

It has two well-defined areas: the area dedicated to the sale of fruits and vegetables, very colorful, and the fish slice.

Of course, to enjoy the great popular atmosphere of the historic Rialto Market You should schedule your visit at the beginning of the morning, as the Rialto Market hours They are from 9 to 12 in the morning, the time at which the stalls begin to be collected.

Of course, from then on you will continue to find a lot of commercial activity in the area surrounding the Rialto bridge, both in its numerous stores, as even in stalls located on the street.

It should also be noted that both banks of the Grand Canal have terraces of restaurants and cafes that are usually very busy, as an ideal point to enjoy the beautiful views of the Rialto Bridge.

For all this, the Grand Canal Rialto Bridge It is one of the main tourist attraction centers in Venice.

Tours and hotels in Venice

As a prelude to your visit of the Rialto Bridge, you may be interested in signing up for a free tour in Spanish through Venice which lasts an hour and a half and takes place in San Marcos Square and its surroundings.

Or maybe you prefer to sign up for complete tour in Spanish of Venice, with a duration of four hours, or to the exclusive private tour in Spanish of Venice, lasting two hours, during which the Rialto bridge becomes one of the essential stages.

Map: how to get to the Rialto Bridge in Venice

For your visit to Venice, on this map you have the location of the Rialto Bridge on the banks of the Grand Canal.