The Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, is a Medieval Bridge over the Arno River. It is the only bridge in Florence to still have shops along it, once occupied by butchers, but presently occupied by jewelers, art dealers, and souvenirs. The Ponte Vecchio is flanked by Ponte Santa Trinita and Ponte alle Grazie.
The bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point, and it is believed that the bridge was first built during Roman times. After being destroyed by a flood in 1117, it was reconstructed in stone, and swept away again in 1333. The bridge was again rebuilt in 1345. The bridge has always hosted shops and merchants who displayed their goods on tables in front of their premises. At the end of the sixteenth century Grand Duke Ferdinand I replaced the butchers’ shops with gold and silversmiths, and the trade has prevailed ever since. The back shops were added in the seventeenth century.
During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by Germans during their retreat of August 4, 1944, unlike all of the other bridges in Florence. This was allegedly because of an express order by Hitler. The bridge was also severely damaged by the 1966 flood of the Arno River. The Arno rose so high that a fortune of gold was washed away.
Along the Ponte Vecchio, there were many padlocks locked to various places, especially to the railing around the statue of Benvenuto Cellini. Benvenuto Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, painter, soldier, and musician. The padlock tradition was perhaps introduced by the padlock shop owner at the end of the bridge. It is popularly connected to idea of love and lovers: by locking the padlock and throwing the key into the river, the lovers became eternally bonded.
Our Recommendations
Open Bar Golden View (Via dei Bardi 58r) – This restaurant has three dining rooms with enormous windows overlooking the Arno, the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Vasari Corridor. The restaurant serves traditional Tuscan cuisine with a Mediterranean touch, and a lot of fresh seafood.
On Via Por Santa Maria, there are many stands outside gelateria’s which serve delicious waffles! Try a waffle with nutella, gelato, or chocolate, and enjoy!
