The 150 canals in the city, which add up to an overall length of 45 kilometers. The Grand Canal is the main canal in the city, with on its own having a length of 3 kilometers. it has a width at most of 70 meters and at least 30 meters. there are 3 major bends in the Grand Canal.
The Rialto Bridge is a bridge that spans the Grand Canal. It is located on the third bend of the Grand Canal. There was once a high ground which was named "Rivo Alto", which means "High Shore" or "High Bank." the name Rialto is derived from this, and it is its own island in the center of Venice.
Several markets moved to Rialto, and to make way for this, apontoon bridge (boat bridge) was built in 1181. Increased foot traffic meant that a real bridge was required, so in 1255 a wooden bridge was built. It had two ramps that met at a centre, that was movable to let boats and ships pass by.
The wooden bridge needed constant fixing. In 1310, it was partially burnt during a revolt. In 1444, it collapsed under the weight of a horde of people rushing to see the wedding ofMarquis of Ferrara. It collapsed again in 1524.
The idea of building the bridge in stone was discussed from 1503 onwards, and several designs were considered in the next decades. Some famous people who gave designs wereJacopo Sansovino,Palladio, andVignola, but all designs included features ofClassical Architecture, which was judged inappropriate for the placing.
Antonio da Ponte submitted a design, and it was judged suitable to build. It is a single span stone bridge, similar to the wooden bridges, as it has two ramps that lead to a center. The ramps carry rows of shops. It is now today an architectural icon, however, back when it was built, people considered it audacious.
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