Photo: Grand Canal Rialto Bridge Venice

The Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy is the oldest bridge that crosses the Grand Canal.

A bridge that spans the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy is known as the Rialto Bridge and is the most famous in the city besides the Piazza di San Marco. This single span bridge in Venice was designed by Antonio da Ponte and was completed in 1591, eventually becoming one of the architectural icons in the city of Venice, Italy.

The stunning Rialto Bridge has three walkways, two along the outside railings and a wider central walkway that leads between rows of small shops. From the outer walkways you have a beautiful view of the Grand Canal which is the ideal spot to take some photos and watch the tour boats go up and down the canal.

In earlier centuries Venice was built on a group of islands and there was no way to get from one side of the Grand Canal to the other. ... continue below the picture...

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... Originally there was just a bridge of boats to cross the Grand Canal and then many different bridges were constructed in Venice, Italy to try and join the two banks. Nothing was finally accomplished until the later years when the Rialto Bridge was built.

The Rialto Bridge is now an extremely popular place for tourists to visit and explore the shops or you can book a boat tour and enjoy a leisurely trip down the Grand Canal and take photos of this well known bridge.

Ponte di Rialto, Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal, Venice, Veneto, Italy, Europe.