| Ponte Vecchio & Arno River tips and photos posted by real travelers and Florence locals. • 320 Photos
• 201 Reviews
See all Florence Things To Do |
 | Florence Ponte Vecchio & Arno River Reviews | 1 - 10 of 201 |  |
 Looking down the river to the
Ponte Vecchio by sue_stone, 4 more photos
It is unique, as both edges of the bridge are lined with buildings.
Originally these buildings housed butcher shops, but these were eventually closed down as the butchers used to throw unwanted leftovers into the river, polluting it.
It is now lined with jewellery shops, making it not just a Must See Activity, but a chance for some shopping as well!
In the middle of the bridge there is a gap in the shops, enabling you a great view of the river and the buildings on opposite banks. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Florence?
Read reviews about Florence Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 Ponte Vecchio seen from the
next bridge by Henrik_rrb, 8 more photos
It took me three or four visits to Florence before I actually got there, and the first time I actually was standing on the bridge was on the way between two bars, shortly after midnight, so i can't really say that I was totally aware about that I actually was there... ;)
The second time was better though, and definately worth the earlier tries to find it (yeah, I know... It's not that hard to find the bridge, but you know me and maps... At least I got to see some other rivers in Florence!).
Actually I'm not sure about my "title", since I thought, and it seems, like people are living inside the bridge. But other people say that there are only shops there, mostly jewellers.
Anyway, the bridge is overcrowded by tourists, as the whole city, but it's still worth a visit. Try to find some space on the bridge, and watch out over the Arno River.
Or even better, try to find some space on one of the other bridges, close by, and watch the Ponte Vecchio from there!
The bridge was built in 1333, and rebuilt 1345. From the beginning built as a bridge for soldiers to pass over the river, but soon instead that was packed with merchants.
Later on the mighty people in Florence wanted to give the bridge a more glamour style, and made sure to throw away these people.
It was the only bridge in Florence that wasn't destroyed during the second world war, but instead nature itself fixed it 20 years later... Floods destroyed all the shops, although the bridge itself survived.
(Thanks to jlee008 for most of the information!) Leave a Comment Directions: You shouldn't ask me, who needed 3-4 times to actually find the bridge, about directions. But take right from the Santa Croce, or from the central station, if you're on that side of the town. When you're at the river, just follow it to the right bridge!
|
 | |  |
 Even Man's Best Friend
Should Get to See the
Arno! by Jmill42Leave a Comment
|
Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. In 1345 the current bridge replaced an earlier wooden one that was swept away in a flood. It is also the only bridge that was not bombed during World War II.
Goldsmiths took up resident centuries ago, building extensions from their shops that overhang the river. Although no craftsmen actually "work" in their shops today, the jewellery is beautiful.
The area is great for people watching, enjoying the river, and side-stepping hawkers, portrait artists, and souvenir vendors.
We had nice weather for our walk across the bridge and even though it was a holiday and the shops were closed, had a really nice time taking in the sites around the river. We made it to the other side and walked along Via de' Guicciardini, down some little streets, and then along Lungarno Torrigiani and back across Ponte Santa Trinita for nice views of Ponte Vecchio. On the Lungarno Torrigiani side are the Museo Di Storia Della Scienza (science museum), Meseo Horne, and the Biblioteca Nazionale (National Library). It was a nice area and one of the things I loved were the "expressive" fountains (see 2nd photo in tip).
You can spend as much or as little time visiting Ponte Vecchio - a quick trip to the bridge or a leisurely walk to the other side. This was my 3rd or 4th trip to Florence and the first time I made the trip across. Definitely recommend doing that. Leave a Comment Directions: Via Por Santa Maria to the bridge
|
| | |
 vasari corridor - florence by dvideira
Reni, Artemisia Gentileschi and by foreign ones such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Velazquez.
IMPORTANT:
The corridor is sometimes open to the public and can be accessed from inside the Uffizi.
BUT:
It is not currently possible to arrange any tours by now...
The Vasari Corridor may be reopening in mid-September 2004. Information will be available in August 2004. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Florence?
Read reviews about Florence Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Above the houses, on the upstream side of the bridge, is so-called Vasari Corridor, built by Vasari for Cosimo I to go from Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio. In the middle of he bridge a bronze bust of Benvenuto Cellini have been placed in 1900. There are plenty of shops on either side of the bridge, still working, and most of them are the workshops of artisan goldsmiths. Leave a Comment
|
 View from Ponte Vecchio,
Florence by JessH
Prague has the Vltava, Paris has the Seine, Heidelberg the Neckar and Florence has the Arno River.
The Arno flows through Tuscany, is approximately 240km long and empties into the Ligurian Sea just below Pisa.
Even if you are not planning on doing any shopping, a stroll across the Arno on Ponte Vecchio and the other bridges is a lovely addition to a day well-spent in Florence.
A bit of history:
The first wooden construction from 972 was destroyed by a flood in 1117. It was rebuilt in stone but it was devastated again in 1332 by a fire and collapsed again in 1333. The current structure of high stability was built in 1345 from a design by Neri di Fioravante and has since survived several floods and wars. To the left of the bridge, above the shops, runs a long corridor (built in 1565 under the orders of Cosimo I De' Medici) which connects the Uffizi Gallery with Palazzo Pitti.
Nowadays, most shops on Ponte Vecchio sell gold & silver jewellery. (I'm not a huge fan of jewellery... maybe Armani, Gucci, D&G might have a "sale" on.... please?.... anyone?.... haha!) Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 ponte vecchio - florence by dvideira
As that early traffic consisted primarily of traveling soldiers, it isn't surprising that the first merchants to set up shop were blacksmiths, butchers, and tanners. Leave a Comment
|
 Ponte Vecchio From Inside the
Uffizi by Jmill42Leave a Comment
|
 Ponte Vecchio at dusk by Lacristina
This charming pedestrian bridge is lined mostly with shops of goldsmiths and jewelers. The view from the center of the bridge is lovely -- nothing more romantic than a stroll across it at dusk, or late in the evening after a warm dinner of rustic Tuscan food in the glow of your afterdinner "digestivo."
Some people have told me they were disappointed in the bridge, after all the hype. Yes a bit crowded. And yes, in the harsh light of day, the architecture doesn't exactly soar. But tone down your Disneyesque expectations, and go at the time you see in my photo, just at dusk, when everything turns magical. Leave a Comment Address: Across the Arno River, center of townDirections: Historical Center, 10 minute walk south of the Duomo (Cathedral)
|
| | |
|
- Park Hotel Colle degli Angeli Spa & Resort
loc Aiuole (formerly Park Hotel Luce Sorgente), Florence - Nuova Italia
Via Faenza 26, Florence - Relais Florence
Via della Scala, 48, Florence - Hotel Wanda
Via Ghibellina 51 nero, Florence - La Fortezza
Viale Milton 95, Florence - Polihotels Palazzo Ricasoli-Firenze
Via Delle Mantellate 2, Florence - La Casa del Garbo
Piazza della Signoria 8, Florence - Vivahotel Pitti Palace
Borgo San Jacopo, 3, Florence - Arco Antico B&B
Via Faenza 107, Florence - Boscolo Hotel Astoria
Via del Giglio, 9, Florence - Montreal
Via della Scala, 43, Florence - Concordia
Via Amorino 14, Florence - Hotel Souvenir
Via Ventisette Aprile 9 San Lorenzo, Florence - Airport Hotel
Via Don Perosi 39, Florence - Bed and Breakfast in Florence
Via Santa Maria 21, Florence
|
