Sestiere San Polo
Ponte di Rialto
Rialto Bridge
The first bridge over the Grand Canal, now one of Venice's most iconic landmarks.
Rialto (1-min walk)
Highlights
The first bridge to cross Canal Grande
Even today, there are only 3 other bridges spanning this main waterway.
The bridge you see today is not the original
Multiple iterations occurred from the initial floating bridge of 1181 to the current design by Antonio da Ponte in 1591.
A daring design for its era
The bridge has a single central arch supported by an impressive 12,000 elm poles.
Inspiration for another famous bridge
After contributing to the construction of the Rialto bridge, Da Ponte's nephew designed Bridge of Sighs.
Three sets of stairs
With shops flanking the central staircase, it's easy to forget you're crossing a waterway.
The narrowest section of Canal Grande
Experience the bustling boat traffic resulting from this challenge.
Why visit
You'll never get enough of witnessing the captivating bustle at Venice's acclaimed 'true heart'.
Ways to See the Bridge
From the water
See the bridge from the unique perspective at water level.
Take the #1 water bus or ride in a gondola.
You'll find plenty of gondoliers available on-site or you could book a more affordable shared ride online.
From above
The rooftop terrace of Fondaco dei Tedeschi offers impressive views of the bridge and the city.
It has become so popular that reservations need to be made well in advance.
Fingers crossed that it's not too late now.
Day and night
Cross the bridge at different times of the day to experience the dynamic atmosphere.
Nearby
These top places are steps away from Rialto Bridge:
