Rialto Bridge

Venice's oldest and most famous canal crossing/Bridges & Tunnels

The Rialto Bridge spans the Grand Canal in Venice and is the oldest of the four bridges crossing that waterway. Completed in 1591 and designed by Antonio da Ponte, it replaced a series of wooden bridges that kept collapsing or burning down. The stone arch bridge features two inclined ramps leading to a central portico lined with shops. It remained the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot for nearly 300 years. The single stone arch spans 28.8 meters and was considered an engineering marvel of its time.