Houses on a bridge in Florence. Ponte Vecchio: the “golden” bridge of Florence. The oldest bridge in Florence

The Ponte Vecchio Bridge is a stone crossing over the Arno that is completely different from an ordinary bridge. The building is so old that it even dates back to ancient Roman times. Then, of course, it was a wooden crossing, which did not prevent it from remaining the most important element of the social life of Florence.
The history of Ponte Vecchio is long and turbulent. The bridge was repeatedly washed away by floods that often occurred in the city, was rebuilt, and was destroyed again and again. In the 15th century, this area became the most fragrant in Florence, because it was here that numerous butcher shops were moved away from noble mansions. In those years, trading veal and chicken brains was allowed only on the Old Bridge. All waste from the meat business was thrown into the river, which carried it far beyond the city.
There were many butchers in the city, the bridge was not very long, so its growth began to spread. The merchants built their shops in such a way that they protruded above the bridge, hanging almost above the water. This is how we see Ponte Vecchio bridge and today. But the shops here now sell expensive and very expensive jewelry. Even the simplest ring here costs at least 200 euros.
The Ponte Vecchio bridge was built at the narrowest point of the Arno River. Almost opposite it are the Uffizi Galleries. This is one of the oldest bridges in the Tuscan capital, the only one that was able to preserve almost its original appearance. In its place, however, there were other structures: a bridge from the ancient Roman era that collapsed in 1117, as well as a bridge destroyed by a flood in 1333.
The modern structure first appeared in 1345. Then it was built by the architect Neri di Fioravanti. The design was durable, but at the same time very elegant. At that time the bridge consisted of three arches. A distinctive feature of Ponte Vecchio is the houses that are crowded on both sides. Over time, the straight line of the 14th century buildings was disrupted by various transformations. In the center of the bridge span, a row of buildings is interrupted, turning into an open area, which offers views of the river and other bridges in the city.
Above the buildings is the Vasari Corridor. The architect created it so that Cosimo I could pass from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti without feeling the strong stench from the butchers' shops. Along the corridor there are small round windows in a row, from which the ruler eavesdropped on what was being said. simple people On Bridge. This is what the legend says. Jewelry shops and workshops appeared on the site of the shops in the 16th century. Since then, the Ponte Vecchio has also been called the “Golden Bridge”. There is also a bust of Benvenuto Cellini. “Love locks” are chained to him.

The Ponte Vecchio as we know it today was built in 1345 by the architect Taddeo Gaddi and is an elegant three-arched structure with numerous shops located on the sides of the bridge.

This bridge fascinated me at first sight. No, not even that. I was waiting to see this bridge. Even before my trip to Florence, I knew that this bridge is one of the main attractions of Florence (and this city is very rich in terms of attractions!).

I also knew that there are almost no bridges of this kind preserved in Europe today; I also heard that the famous Bridge of Changes described by Patrick Suskind in the novel Perfumer used to be very similar in appearance to the Ponte Vecchio. But the Parisian bridge has now changed completely from the same one (see pictures at the end of the post), but the Florentine bridge has retained its original medieval flavor. This bridge looks especially mesmerizing in a dark Tuscan night with a full moon:

Don’t judge strictly, because the tripod for photography was the following, also a very ancient bridge, with fences very chipped from time to time:

Let's see what Ponte Vecchio looks like at night?

At night all the shops are locked. Moreover, today all this looks exactly like it did many centuries ago:

According to the traditions of the Middle Ages, the bridge was divided into 38 absolutely equal in size sections on which trade was carried out. Traders also lived here. On the second floors, above their shops and warehouses.

Previously, first butchers traded here, then grocers, blacksmiths and other traders. And even later, by order of the ruler Florence Ferdinand I was allowed to trade only in jewelry here. They are still sold today.

But butchers were banned from trading on the bridge for a very interesting reason. This reason is the construction of the Vasari Corridor - a kilometer-long covered gallery passing over the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The corridor was built in 1564 according to the design of Giorgio Vasari. It was built in just 5 months, for the wedding of Francesco I de'Medici and Giovanna of Austria. The corridor is a covered passage running high above the ground, almost 1 km long and connecting the Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti) , which served as the residence of the Grand Duke, and the Uffizi, or the offices where he worked. You can see in the photo below - under the red-tiled roof, starting on the right, in the Uffizi Gallery, the Vasari corridor, bending at a right angle, goes over the Ponte Vecchio bridge. Due to the fact that the residents of one of the towers through which the gallery was supposed to pass did not agree to leave their homes, the gallery has a somewhat unusual curved shape. This can be clearly seen in the photo below.

And in this photo you can clearly see: the Ponte Vecchio bridge, the Uffizi Gallery, and the Varzari corridor (photo taken from high point, which is called Piazzale Michelangelo, I will definitely write about this place)

Starting from the western corridor of the Uffizi Gallery (entrance between rooms 25 and 34), the corridor opens to the river, and then along the banks of the Arno River, along the Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) to the Pitti Palace. At that time, there was a meat market on the bridge, the unpleasant odors of which could offend the aristocratic nose of the Duke. So the market was moved to another place, and since then (more precisely, since 1593) there have been jewelers' shops on the bridge.

During the day the bridge is bustling with life. Crowds of tourists stare and ask prices at the jewelry displayed in ancient shops.

And the balcony photographed the night before (all in flowers), which seemed like a theater set, in the light of day takes on a completely residential and cozy look:

And the bust of Benvenuto Cellini on the bridge is a traditional hangout for all hippies in Florence.

So, just for reference: Bridge Change (French: Pont au Change) is a bridge in the center of Paris, spanning the Seine River. The bridge got its name because of the many money changers’ shops that were previously located in the houses that built up the bridge until 1788.

It is believed that it was this bridge that Patrick Suskind described in his novel “Perfume”. The Money Changer's Bridge is mentioned in Patrick Suskind's novel Perfume. The story of a murderer" - on the bridge there is the house and shop of the perfumer Baldini. On the same night when the main character of the novel, Grenouille, leaves Baldini's house, the Bridge of the Changers collapses along with the sleeping perfumer. At the end of the 18th century, all buildings from the bridge were demolished. The bridge acquired its modern appearance during the Second Empire under Baron Osman.

A story about the unique Florentine bridge Ponte Vecchio. One of the few remaining fully built bridges. But it is unique for other reasons.

Ponte Vecchio is one of the main business cards wonderful Florence. It is located at the narrowest point of the Arno River and connects two parts of the legendary Italian city. This bridge is notable for several reasons.

The oldest bridge in Florence

It was built by the architect Neri di Fioravanti in 1345 and to this day the bridge has practically not changed its appearance. Even during the Second World War it survived, although all other bridges were blown up. True, the reasons given are different. Some believe that thanks to the Resistance, while others believe that it is to undermine cultural heritage Adolf Hitler himself banned it by personal decree. By the way, one of the few modernizations of the bridge is associated with the German dictator. Even before the World War, Mussolini made a special observation deck with large rectangular windows on the inside of the Vasari Corridor. It was decided to leave these windows, and they have survived to this day.

Photo by: Carlo Broggi. The photo was taken before 1925

The Last of the Mohicans

The Ponte Vecchio gives us an idea of ​​what city crossings looked like in the late Middle Ages. The fact is that there was not much free space in the city, and in the megacities of that time, bridges were often lined with houses or trading shops. For example, it was completely built up. It contained more than a hundred different types of buildings. By the way, if you read the novel “Perfume” or, then it was on the Pont de Change that Baldini’s shop was located, which collapsed into the Seine along with its owner. But at some point, the main bridges in Europe were cleared of buildings, but the Ponte Vecchio survived and has continued to amaze guests of Florence for hundreds of years.

Vasari's secret corridor inside the bridge

Numerous tourists walking along the bridge do not always know that right above their heads lies another path to the other side of the river. We are talking about a secret corridor. It was designed by the architect Vasari, in whose honor secret passage and got its name. Construction began in 1565 on the initiative of Duke Cosimo I, who belonged to the legendary Medici dynasty. The main purpose of the move is to connect the two banks of the river so that the Duke can move from the Vecchio Palace to the Pitti residence unnoticed. Why not just walk across the bridge, you think? There are at least three reasons for this:

Planning a trip? That way!

We have prepared some useful gifts for you. They will help you save money while preparing for your trip.

For safety

When we talk about Florence and the Medici, we are a priori talking about the struggle for power. This means that the life of a ruler may depend on the ability to move unnoticed from one building to another.

For comfort

The bridge is a busy place of trade. During Cosimo's time, butchers' shops were located there. Since few people cared about the sanitary situation, the bridge exuded the bone-chilling smells of rotten meat and waste. The presence of a separate corridor made the situation somewhat easier. By the way, butchers were permanent residents of the bridge until the 16th century, after which they were replaced by jewelry stores and the atmosphere became lighter.

For spying

Since there were always a lot of residents hanging around the butcher shops who gave free rein to their tongues, the Duke of Tuscany took advantage of this for banal eavesdropping. According to rumors, the most careless talkers could be imprisoned the very next day.

Home of bankruptcy

There is an interesting story connected with the bridge. There is a legend that this is where the term “bankruptcy” originated. This is due to the fact that when a merchant on the Ponte Vecchio finally went bankrupt, the city guards came and broke (rotto) his counter (banco). This procedure was called “bancorotto”. After a person lost his counter, he could no longer engage in trade. In other words, he was declared bankrupt.

The famous French writer Maurice Druon talks about the spirit of this place:

What is famous about the Vecchio Bridge in Florence: a little history and modernity. How Ponte Vecchio managed to survive devastating floods and why from a distance it resembles Brazilian favelas. Where is old bridge Florence, how to get there on your own from the city center and what to see.

Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and most recognizable bridge in Florence. Not a single tourist bypasses it. During its existence, it was rebuilt several times due to constant floods. Translated from Italian its name Ponte Vecchio means "Old Bridge". Today, guests of the city can see it in its original appearance, since practically nothing has changed here over many centuries.

Excursions in Florence and surrounding areas

The most interesting excursions in the capital of Tuscany - these are routes from local residents. We recommend starting with sightseeing tour(Ponte Vecchio in the program). And then choose a program with a twist - at least gastronomic tour, even an exit route, even medieval Florence.

From the history of the Vecchio Bridge

The decision to build the Ponte Vecchio bridge at this point on the Arno River was not accidental. Once upon a time, a bridge with wooden superstructures stood in its place from the ancient Roman era. However, as a result of a flood, it was destroyed and then rebuilt from stone. But this did not help cope with the flow of water. The structure was again demolished by a natural disaster in 1333. According to historians, the work of restoring it was entrusted to Neri di Fioravanti. Construction was completed in 1345. After this, the bridge remained for many centuries a place where lively trade was carried out.

Interestingly, Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed during World War II. The rest of the historical buildings in the city were much less fortunate, many of them were severely damaged.

From the mid-15th century, butchers' shops from all over Florence were moved here. Their number turned out to be much greater than expected, then it was decided to make several additional extensions.

Over time, the straight line of buildings on both sides of the bridge has changed greatly due to various transformations. In 1556, by order of Duke Cosimo I de' Medici, the so-called Vasari Corridor, passing over the Ponte Vecchio itself. This corridor was named in honor of the architect who worked on its creation. Along it, the Duke could easily move from the Vecchio Palace to the residence on the other side of the Arno - the Pitti Palace.

Despite the fact that the bridge was rebuilt several times, it failed to survive another flood in 1966. A natural disaster struck the city, causing damage to many buildings and landmarks in Florence. Of course, everything has been restored and restored for decades, but the city authorities had to bear enormous costs.

Sights of Ponte Vecchio

In the western part of the building there is a bust of the Italian jeweler and artist - Benvenuto Cellini. It was created by a sculpture named Raffaello Romanelli, born in Florence. A popular tradition among city residents and tourists is to hang so-called “love locks” on the fences around the statue.

* This “cute” habit is practiced by uncontrollable lovers around the world - in particular, the forged bars of the Charles Bridge in Prague suffer from it, the fences of the Lovers' Bridge in Paris recently collapsed, and local residents often oppose marginalized “tradition.”

Entrance to the Vecchio Bridge from the embankment

Jewelry shop on the bridge (Florence, Italy)

Jewelry as a souvenir (Vecchio Bridge, Florence)

On the Ponte Vecchio itself there are still shops, shops and workshops. You can mainly buy gold items, jewelry and themed souvenirs from Florence (postcards, magnets, ceramic plates, key rings, guidebooks).

Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to get to the part of the Codidor Vasari, which is located directly above the bridge, since it is closed to outsiders. The main reason is the unsatisfactory condition of the structure, which, although not on the verge of destruction, is still not adapted to the tourist load. Perhaps the authorities will take care of this problem and solve the problem with access, because the multi-story superstructure over the Ponte Vecchio invariably raises questions and stirs the hearts of travelers. Everyone dreams of walking the “dear Medici” from the Vecchio Palace to the Pitti!

Where is it and how to get there

The old bridge of Florence is located between Via Calimala on one side of the river and Via d'Guicciardini- another. Closest to Vecchio Bridge bus stop that’s what it’s called “Ponte Vecchio”. To get there you need to take route C3 or D.

But the easiest way is to walk, Ponte Vecchio is just a few steps away Piazzale degli Uffizi, that is, from the main entrance to the Uffizi Gallery, which rarely gets overlooked in Florence.

Ponte Vecchio on the map of Florence

The Vecchio Bridge (Florence) is located at: Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI

A story about the unique Florentine bridge Ponte Vecchio. One of the few remaining fully built bridges. But it is unique for other reasons.

Ponte Vecchio is one of the main calling cards of wonderful Florence. It is located at the narrowest point of the Arno River and connects the two parts of the legendary Italian city. This bridge is notable for several reasons.

The oldest bridge in Florence

It was built by the architect Neri di Fioravanti in 1345 and to this day the bridge has practically not changed its appearance. Even during the Second World War it survived, although all other bridges were blown up. True, the reasons given are different. Some believe that thanks to the Resistance, while others believe that Adolf Hitler himself forbade the undermining of cultural heritage by personal decree. By the way, one of the few modernizations of the bridge is associated with the German dictator. Even before the World War, Mussolini specially made an observation deck with large rectangular windows on the inside of the Vasari Corridor for the arrival of the guest of honor. It was decided to leave these windows, and they have survived to this day.

Photo by: Carlo Broggi. The photo was taken before 1925

The Last of the Mohicans

The Ponte Vecchio gives us an idea of ​​what city crossings looked like in the late Middle Ages. The fact is that there was not much free space in the city, and in the megacities of that time, bridges were often lined with houses or trading shops. For example, it was completely built up. It contained more than a hundred different types of buildings. By the way, if you read the novel “Perfume” or, then it was on the Pont de Change that Baldini’s shop was located, which collapsed into the Seine along with its owner. But at some point, the main bridges in Europe were cleared of buildings, but the Ponte Vecchio survived and has continued to amaze guests of Florence for hundreds of years.

Vasari's secret corridor inside the bridge

Numerous tourists walking along the bridge do not always know that right above their heads lies another path to the other side of the river. We are talking about a secret corridor. It was designed by the architect Vasari, in whose honor the secret passage got its name. Construction began in 1565 on the initiative of Duke Cosimo I, who belonged to the legendary Medici dynasty. The main purpose of the move is to connect the two banks of the river so that the Duke can move from the Vecchio Palace to the Pitti residence unnoticed. Why not just walk across the bridge, you think? There are at least three reasons for this:

Planning a trip? That way!

We have prepared some useful gifts for you. They will help you save money while preparing for your trip.

For safety

When we talk about Florence and the Medici, we are a priori talking about the struggle for power. This means that the life of a ruler may depend on the ability to move unnoticed from one building to another.

For comfort

The bridge is a busy place of trade. During Cosimo's time, butchers' shops were located there. Since few people cared about the sanitary situation, the bridge exuded the bone-chilling smells of rotten meat and waste. The presence of a separate corridor made the situation somewhat easier. By the way, butchers were permanent residents of the bridge until the 16th century, after which they were replaced by jewelry stores and the atmosphere became lighter.

For spying

Since there were always a lot of residents hanging around the butcher shops who gave free rein to their tongues, the Duke of Tuscany took advantage of this for banal eavesdropping. According to rumors, the most careless talkers could be imprisoned the very next day.

Home of bankruptcy

There is an interesting story connected with the bridge. There is a legend that this is where the term “bankruptcy” originated. This is due to the fact that when a merchant on the Ponte Vecchio finally went bankrupt, the city guards came and broke (rotto) his counter (banco). This procedure was called “bancorotto”. After a person lost his counter, he could no longer engage in trade. In other words, he was declared bankrupt.

The famous French writer Maurice Druon talks about the spirit of this place: