The Ponte Vecchio Florence: Everything You Need to Know About Florence’s Historic Symbol
The Ponte Vecchio Florence glimmers like the showcases of its jewellery shops as the evening descends. A sparkling necklace hangs from the arches that dive into the Arno River, and the wonder of tourists, seeing it from afar, is palpable. Over the years, it has accumulated several “scars” and has renewed itself with the advent of new artistic languages. It’s a living, silent old structure that tells passersby the history of Florence – what it was and will be. Get ready to get up close and personal with this Italian architectural Matusalemme and sharpen your gaze to capture every detail of its centuries-old story.
History – Ancient and Modern of Florence’s Symbol
Built during Roman times over the Arno River, which Guzzini in 1557 called “bitter” and “turbid” due to its disastrous floods, the Ponte Vecchio was swept away and rebuilt several times until 1345. After the flood in November 1333, the architect Taddeo Gaddi – a pupil of Giotto – decided to redesign the spans, choosing three depressed arches, broader and more resistant. Gaddi created Europe’s most innovative bridge and an unshakeable structure capable of channelling floodwaters more efficiently and with less damage.
In the 1400s, the Ponte Vecchio became the location of the new food market, which was later replaced by a row of jewellers and artisans working with precious metals and stones. Why? During the wedding of Francesco I and Giovanna D’Austria in 1565, the architect Giorgio Vasari built the famous Vasari Corridor, commissioned by Grand Duke Cosimo De Medici.
Thanks to this elevated structure, about one kilometre long, the rulers of Florence could travel safely from the Villa Granducale of Palazzo Pitti d’Oltrarno to the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio on the other side. The Medici’s route passed right above the shops on the left side. It is said that Francesco I, annoyed by the foul smell of refuse and the noise of the merchants, decided to relocate them elsewhere in 1593 in favour of more refined trade. Secondly, the grand duke probably saw the opportunity to levy higher taxes on precious goods merchants.
DISCOVER THE ART OF FLORENCE WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
One of the most renowned goldsmiths of the time was the Mannerist Benvenuto Cellini, honoured by the sculptor Raffaele Romanelli with a bust in his honour in 1901, placed on a pedestal in the centre of the Ponte Vecchio Florence.
The Ponte Vecchio also survived the Second World War. Thanks to the timely intervention of the German consul Gerhard Wolf, who distinguished himself during the occupation for his commitment to protecting the city’s cultural heritage and millions of citizens, including Jews, the Ponte Vecchio was spared from German bombings in 1944. However, it remained unusable for some time due to mines in the area. To avoid a disaster, the houses built at their ends were demolished, and the debris formed a barrier preventing the passage of the mines.
According to a recent testimony published in 2016, the Ponte Vecchio was saved on that occasion by a man nicknamed “il Burgasso” by the jewellers. He was an old, small, and disabled man with acute intuition who was a shop guardian during the war years. The Nazi soldiers, deceived by his appearance, considered him a poor madman, which allowed him to spy on them undisturbed while they placed the mines. He took advantage of the nighttime hours to cut the wires. This story dispels the legend that Hitler would have easily acquiesced to Wolf’s requests due to his fascination with the panorama he could admire from the bridge during his visit to Florence in 1939.
In 1966, Taddeo Gaddi‘s genius was tested by the flood of November 4, the same day as the one that struck Florence in 1333. Even though the water flooded the shops this time, the Ponte Vecchio held up perfectly. This timeless monument to the history and culture of the city has faced about 56 floods since 1177. Still, among them, the 1966 flood is considered the most catastrophic in the history of Florence and Tuscany, as it affected not only the historic centre of the city but also dozens of other municipalities along the river and its tributaries.
Curiosities (Perhaps You Didn’t Know) about the Ponte Vecchio Florence
All this information has intrigued you, and you’ve decided to include the Ponte Vecchio Florence in your list of things to see in Florence. Some minor information, curiosities often not told to tourists visiting Florence, are helpful.
commemorative plaques – one in vernacular and the other in Latin – are engraved on the Ponte Vecchio, recalling the 1333 flood. The first one, placed under the half-moon meridian towards the centre of the path, on the east side facing Oltrarno, is now almost illegible.
The characteristic shops suspended over the Arno were built in the 1400s to leave more space for the market and allow the shopkeepers to throw waste directly into the river during food processing.
In the 1500s, the Mannelli family strongly opposed the construction of the Vasari Corridor. According to Giorgio Vasari‘s project, their tower overlooking the current Via de’ Bardi should have disappeared along with the others at the Ponte Vecchio‘s corners. The Mannelli forced the architect to revise his plan, making the corridor run around the structure, a compromise that the Medici were not entirely happy with.
One of the three windows opened under the Vasari Corridor was enlarged during the visit of Vittorio Emanuele II to Florence on April 15, 1865, so that the King of Italy could fully enjoy the fireworks display organized incredibly for him.
The famous “fashion of padlocks,” present in Federico Moccia’s novel “Ho voglia di te,” was born about fifty years ago right on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, probably invented by discharged soldiers of the San Giorgio alla Costa Academy. Today, it is considered illegal and punishable with a fifty-euro fine.
Famous jewellery Shops on Ponte Vecchio
The jewellery shops brimming with precious gems illuminate the path that connects the two banks of the Arno River, showcasing renowned brands, both Italian and international, as well as works by local goldsmiths skilled in ancient arts such as engraving, filigree, or embossing. The Florentine “Golden Street” attracts hundreds of yearly tourists, who excitedly crowd the Ponte Vecchio to admire the shop windows. The crowd starts thinning only in the late afternoon, allowing a chance to slow down and look around calmly.
Calà, Gherardi, Bellini, Bernardo, Biscioni, Callai, Melli, Fantoni, Fratelli Piccini, and Fratelli Peruzzi are just some of the famous names printed on the shop awnings, equipped with characteristic wooden doors called “madielle,” invented around the early 1600s by the first jewellers of the Ponte Vecchio to make their shops more secure.
During the F-Light Festival, held from December 8 to January 6 each year, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, sparkling and colourful lights envelop the Ponte Vecchio, transforming it into a gigantic painting. The F-Light Festival, first inaugurated in 2015 (International Year of Light), brings spectacular choreographies, guided tours, and workshops for adults and children around the city during the Christmas holidays.
In addition to the beautiful spectacle of the Ponte Vecchio, other places of interest in Florence, such as Fronte Belvedere, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, medieval towers, and the Novecento Museum, are illuminated yearly.
In 2020, Sight, from the dark forest to the Light, was inaugurated, drawing inspiration from the arduous journey of the Supreme Poet to send a message of hope to the world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ponte vecchio photos
Reviews by tourists:
In summary, among the various things to see in Florence, the Ponte Vecchio is undoubtedly one of the most incredible and exciting. The reviews we offer also confirm this. To read more reviews, click on the TripAdvisor link dedicated to Ponte Vecchio.
Visiting Florence and the Ponte Vecchio:
You can visit the Ponte Vecchio for free and at any time. However, paid tours with professional guides and art historians include the monument within extensive itineraries of the most significant places in the historic centre. Florence With Locals has selected some of these routes for you, which can undoubtedly make your visit to Florence even more unforgettable.
Guided walking tour of Welcome to Florence:
Guided walking tour of Welcome to Florence: A stroll through the historic centre, passing through the main points of interest in Florence. The time starts from Piazza San Lorenzo 13, accompanied by a professional Local guide from Florence with Locals. Groups of 6 people are planned, and audio guides will be provided in case of excess. Children can also participate, but only when accompanied by an adult. Refunds or rescheduling of the date are provided in case of cancellations.
Free cancellation within 24 hours.
We are booking with immediate confirmation.
Duration: 2 Hours
Cost: starting from €43.96.
Electronic tickets are accepted.
DISCOVER THE ART OF FLORENCE WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
Map and How to Get to Ponte Vecchio for a Visit:
The best way to reach Ponte Vecchio is on foot since the historic centre of Florence is almost entirely closed to traffic. If you travel by car, we advise you to park at the Santa Maria Novella station, about 1.5 km from the monument. From there, you can take Via Il Prato and then continue on Borgo Ognissanti, Lungarno Amerigo, or Via Palazzuolo: in all three cases, it will be about a 20-minute walk.
If you have just visited the Uffizi Gallery, walk along Lungarno degli Archibusieri and continue on Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa De’ Medici: you will reach Ponte Vecchio after just 2 minutes.
If you prefer public transport, take the bus line C1 or C2.
DISCOVER THE ART OF FLORENCE WITH AN EXPERT GUIDE
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
Duration: 2 hours, Private Tour
Uffizi Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Embark on an interactive treasure hunt at the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest museums in Europe. This tour is perfect for all ages and allows you to discover Renaissance masterpieces as our expert guide unveils the secrets behind iconic works by Michelangelo, Botticelli
Duration: 1.5 hours, Private Tour
David & Accademia Gallery Florence Private Tour with Local Guide
Visit the Accademia Gallery and immerse yourself in the beauty of Renaissance artworks and statues, including the iconic masterpiece of Michelangelo’s David. With the help of an enthusiastic local guide, your experience is sure to be unforgettable.
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