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 | Florence Ponte Vecchio & Arno River Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 184 |  |
The Ponte Vecchio is a bridge over the River Arno and is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence - it has withstood flood and war since 1345. In fact it was the only bridge in Florence to survive Nazi explosives in 1944.
It is unique, as both edges of the bridge are lined with buildings.
Originally these buildings housed butcher shops, but these were eventually closed down as the butchers used to throw unwanted leftovers into the river, polluting it.
It is now lined with jewellery shops, making it not just a Must See Activity, but a chance for some shopping as well!
In the middle of the bridge there is a gap in the shops, enabling you a great view of the river and the buildings on opposite banks. Leave a Comment |
More than any other place in Florence, the Arno holds a special place in my heart. With such attractions as the Ponte Vecchio and Uffizi directly on or crossing its banks, it is important for sightseeing reasons. But, more than that, it is just a beautiful place to stroll, not doing anything. There are many more bridges, though none as spectacular as the Vecchio, and it is very rewarding to see some of these. I suggest a few hours by foot along this river and you will be in complete agreement with me. The best time to spend here is right at dusk. (See my nightlife tip) Leave a Comment |
Although there are a lot of famous things in beautiful Florence I would say that the old bridge, Ponte Vecchio, is at least on top 3.
It took me three or four visits to Florence before I actually got there, and the first time I actually was standing on the bridge was on the way between two bars, shortly after midnight, so i can't really say that I was totally aware about that I actually was there... ;)
The second time was better though, and definately worth the earlier tries to find it (yeah, I know... It's not that hard to find the bridge, but you know me and maps... At least I got to see some other rivers in Florence!).
Actually I'm not sure about my "title", since I thought, and it seems, like people are living inside the bridge. But other people say that there are only shops there, mostly jewellers.
Anyway, the bridge is overcrowded by tourists, as the whole city, but it's still worth a visit. Try to find some space on the bridge, and watch out over the Arno River.
Or even better, try to find some space on one of the other bridges, close by, and watch the Ponte Vecchio from there!
The bridge was built in 1333, and rebuilt 1345. From the beginning built as a bridge for soldiers to pass over the river, but soon instead that was packed with merchants.
Later on the mighty people in Florence wanted to give the bridge a more glamour style, and made sure to throw away these people.
It was the only bridge in Florence that wasn't destroyed during the second world war, but instead nature itself fixed it 20 years later... Floods destroyed all the shops, although the bridge itself survived.
(Thanks to jlee008 for most of the information!) Leave a Comment Directions: You shouldn't ask me, who needed 3-4 times to actually find the bridge, about directions. But take right from the Santa Croce, or from the central station, if you're on that side of the town. When you're at the river, just follow it to the right bridge! |
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Ponte Vecchio literally means "old bridge". It gets its name, surprisingly enough, beause it is the oldest remaining bridge in Florence. But, that is only part of the reason why it is such a big attraction. Many, many shops and restaurants clutter the area on either of its shores, making it a haven for tourists. Additionally, lining the bridge today are several jewelry shops, most of the high-end range. Looking west from the bridge at sunset is truly amazing. I think I have mention that fact 4 times now in my tips. I hope you are paying attention!!! Leave a Comment |
The passageway above the shops was designed for the Medici family by Vasari in 1565. It allowed the Medici's to move between thier residences without coming in contact with the public. Subsequently it was the only bridge not damaged in raids during WWII.
This has also been a popular shot for movies. There are scenes from "Hannibal" and "Room with a View" that were shot along this area. Leave a Comment Address: Ponte Vecchio |
The section that stretches over the Ponte Vecchio holds the famous Collection of Self-portraits, which include paintings by Vasari and Bernini. There are also works by Italian artists such as Annibale Carracci, Guido
Reni, Artemisia Gentileschi and by foreign ones such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Velazquez.
IMPORTANT:
The corridor is sometimes open to the public and can be accessed from inside the Uffizi.
BUT:
It is not currently possible to arrange any tours by now...
The Vasari Corridor may be reopening in mid-September 2004. Information will be available in August 2004. Leave a Comment |
Above the houses, on the upstream side of the bridge, is so-called Vasari Corridor, built by Vasari for Cosimo I to go from Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio. In the middle of he bridge a bronze bust of Benvenuto Cellini have been placed in 1900. There are plenty of shops on either side of the bridge, still working, and most of them are the workshops of artisan goldsmiths. Leave a Comment |
Originally the bridge was built just to allow access over the Arno. Slowly, with so much traffic going over it, merchants decided to set up shop on the bridge itself.
As that early traffic consisted primarily of traveling soldiers, it isn't surprising that the first merchants to set up shop were blacksmiths, butchers, and tanners. Leave a Comment |
Most of the world's great romantic cities have a river:
Prague has the Vltava, Paris has the Seine, Heidelberg the Neckar and Florence has the Arno River.
The Arno flows through Tuscany, is approximately 240km long and empties into the Ligurian Sea just below Pisa.
Even if you are not planning on doing any shopping, a stroll across the Arno on Ponte Vecchio and the other bridges is a lovely addition to a day well-spent in Florence.
A bit of history:
The first wooden construction from 972 was destroyed by a flood in 1117. It was rebuilt in stone but it was devastated again in 1332 by a fire and collapsed again in 1333. The current structure of high stability was built in 1345 from a design by Neri di Fioravante and has since survived several floods and wars. To the left of the bridge, above the shops, runs a long corridor (built in 1565 under the orders of Cosimo I De' Medici) which connects the Uffizi Gallery with Palazzo Pitti.
Nowadays, most shops on Ponte Vecchio sell gold & silver jewellery. (I'm not a huge fan of jewellery... maybe Armani, Gucci, D&G might have a "sale" on.... please?.... anyone?.... haha!) Leave a Comment |
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Originally the bridge was built to allow access over the Arno River. With so much traffic going over it, merchants decided to set up shop on the bridge itself.
Between 1565 and 1800, an upper level was added, as was a back row of shops. All this increased trade not only helped Florence grow, but the new shops also gave the bridge structure and strength. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence to survive WWII, and in 1966, when a massive flood wiped out all the shops on the bridge, the bridge itself was strong enough to withstand the roaring waters. When we went through the bridge all the shops were closed but the bridge was still full of people going thru it. They say this is the only bridge in the world with shops built along side it almost 3 floors high! Leave a Comment |
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