Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Venice & The Veneto

104  VENICE AREA B Y AREA

1 Rialto Bridge competition was held for the
design of a new bridge to be
Ponte di Rialto. Map 7 A1. 4 Rialto.
built in stone. Michelangelo,
The Rialto Bridge has been a busy Andrea Palladio and Jacopo
part of the city for centuries. At Sansovino were among the
any time of day, you will find eminent contenders, but after
crowds jostling on the bridge, months of deliberation it was the
browsing for souvenirs or taking a aptly named Antonio da Ponte
break to watch the constant swirl who won the commission. The
of activity on the Grand Canal bridge was built between 1588
from the bridge’s balustrades. and 1591 and, until 1854, when
Stone bridges were built in the Accademia Bridge was
Venice as early as the 12th constructed, this remained the
century, but it was not until only means of crossing the
1588, after the collapse, decay Grand Canal on foot.
or sabotage of earlier wooden Traghetto ferrying passengers across
structures, that a solid stone 2 San Giacomo to the Pescheria and the Erberia
bridge was designed for the
Rialto. One of the early wood di Rialto 3 Rialto Markets
crossings collapsed in 1444 Campo San Giacomo, San Polo. Map 3 San Polo. Map 3 A5. 4 Rialto. Erberia
under the weight of spectators A5. Tel 041 275 04 62. Open 10am– (fruit and vegetable market) until
at the wedding ceremony of the 5pm Mon–Sat. Closed 1 Jan, Easter, 12:30pm Mon–Sat. Pescheria (fish
Marchese di Ferrara. 15 Aug, 25 Dec. & 9 ^ = market): until 12:30pm Tue–Sat.
Vittore Carpaccio’s painting ∑ chorusvenezia.org
Healing of the Madman (c.1496, Venetians have come to the
see p137) in the Acca demia The first church to stand on this Erberia to buy fresh produce for
shows the fourth bridge – a site was allegedly founded in hundreds of years. Heavily
rickety-looking structure with a the 5th century, making it the laden barges arrive at dawn and
drawbridge for the tall-masted oldest church in Venice. The offload their crates on to the
galleys. By the 16th century this present building dates from the quayside by the Grand Canal.
was in a sad state of decay and a 11th to 12th centuries, with Local produce includes red
major restoration in 1601. The radicchio from Treviso, and
original Gothic portico and succulent asparagus and baby
huge 24-hour clock are the artichokes from the islands of
most striking features. Sant’Erasmo and Le Vignole (see
The crouching stone figure on p153). In the adjoining fish
the far side of the square is the market are sole, sardines, skate,
so-called Gobbo (hunchback) of squid, crabs, clams and other
the Rialto. In the 16th century this species of seafood and fish. To
was a welcome sight for minor see it all in full swing you must
offenders, who were forced to run arrive early in the morning – by
Busy canalside restaurant near the the gauntlet from Piazza San noon the vendors are starting
Rialto Bridge Marco to this square at the Rialto. to pack up.
Rialto Bridge The central thoroughfare is
Until the 19th century this was lined with two rows of shops.
the only link between the two
sides of the Grand Canal.
External
balustraded
footpath

The height of 7.5 m (24 ft)
enabled galleys to pass below.

Single arch span of
48 m (157 ft)

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