Rialto bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
Major sights in Venice
Rialto is the major bridge in Venice, crossing the Grand Canal in the area of Rialto and probably the most famous in the city together with the Bridge of Sighs.
Initially it was named Ponte della Moneta (Coin's Bridge) because it had been built near the Ancient Mint of Venice, and in the shops upon it there were concentrated the financial activities by Venetian Bankers.
The current version, coming out from the sixt reconstruction done and that was the first stone bridge in the city, belongs to the 1590 ant was performed by the architect Antonio Da Ponte ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough).
THe elegant shape of Rialto bridge is divided into 12 round double arches symmetrically placed, which nowadays host retail shops of tourist souvenirs.