Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio) - details and images
Ponte Vecchio or Old Bridge is the oldest and most famous bridge over the River Arno, Florence and the only bridge that survived the Second World War. This would have been due to an express order of Hitler. Access to Ponte Vecchio was, however, obstructed by the destruction of buildings at both ends, which were then reconstructed using a combination of original and modern design.
The bridge, located in the narrow portion of the river Arno in a place where it is believed that a bridge has been built since Roman times, when via Cassia crossed the river at this point.
Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi and is characterized by stores that seem to "hang" on the side of the bridge. The butcher shops were occupied until the sixteenth century, when Cosimo I moved across the river in the Pitti Palace. It can not stand the smell and drove butchers, their place being taken by goldsmiths and silversmiths artisans.
Ponte Vecchio today consists of three segmented arches: the main arch has a length of 30 meters, and the two side arches each have a length of 27 meters. Arch height is between 3.5 and 4, 4 meters.
In order to connect the Palazzo Vecchio (Florence Hall today) with the Palazzo Pitti, in 1565 Cosimo I de Medici ordered the construction of the famous Vasari Corridor above the bridge.
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