No trip to Venice is complete without traversing the Rialto at least once. The most famous of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal, it is heavily trafficked during the day. It connects the San Polo and San Marco sestieri (districts), so is a useful thoroughfare for locals and tourists alike.
First built in 1181 CE, tradition has it that was initially made with wooden poles. Its original name was Ponte della Moneta – a mint (coin production) was once on the San Marco banks near the bridge. Over the centuries, it was replaced by a structural wooden bridge, and the name was changed the current name. Rialto is a reference to the fact that the bridge passes high over the river.
The current bridge opened for business in 1591 CE to much speculation that it wouldn’t last long (predecessors had a long history of collapse for various reasons). It remained the only foot bridge over the Grand Canal for another three hundred years. The bridge formed part of the Merceria path connecting Piazza San Marco with the Rialto market.
