Bridges, Venice

Favorite thing: Probably you don't know that in Venice they are building a new bridge on Grand Canal, which name will be "Ponte Calatrava" ( Calatrava's Bridge).

The new bridge will connect Piazzale Roma, the city when you leave your car, with the opposite side near the railway station.
The name "Calatrava" is about the owner of the project.

Actually if you go to Piazzale Roma, you can look how the costruction goes on...

Fondest memory: The PONTE DI RIALTO (Rialto Bridge) is not only a Venetian monument but also a National Monument - in my eyes.

Built within 3 years - between 1588 and 1591, the Rialto Bridge is a permanent replacement for the boat bridge and 3 wooden bridges that had spanned the Grand Canal at various times since the 12th Century.

It was recorded that the architect of the famed Bridge, Antonio da Ponte ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough), competed against such illustrious men like Michelangelo and Palladio to finally win the contract.

The Rialto Bridge has 3 walkways: 2 along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between 2 rows of small shops that sell jewelry, linens, Murano glass, and other items for the tourist trade.

Favorite thing:
Not the usual way to see the Rialto Bridge. Normally you see the outside of the bridge, but this is the inside. The bridge has three walkways: two along the outer balustrades, and a wider central walkway leading between two rows of small shops, which you see here on the photo. This is a busy area of Venice, lots of tourist shops, restaurants and of course.... tourists :-))

Favorite thing:
This page I want to take you on a photo tour through Venice. Venice is a city you have to feel, you have to see, and absorb, before you understand its beauty. I cannot give you all that on my travel page, but I try to give you a little bit of how I felt while I was in Venice.

So please come and walk with me through Venice.... mmmmmm, or should I say 'get lost in Venice'. Because that is what you should do. Throw away the map you've got, and just start walking. Stroll through the little street, soaking in the sights, the old houses, canals, boats, sounds, and oh so beautiful squares.... Sometimes you get into a dead end street, but don't worry, and just turn back and take another little street, and be surprised again what beauty lies around the next corner. And don't worry for not finding the way back at the end of the day; because somehow, you will always find your way back.

Favorite thing: It can be a major tourist trap, but this is THE place for buying all kinds of souvenirs to take back home. I was able to buy glass pens with small ink bottles for less than $10. I also found black and white postcards of a fire at La Fenice theater (which keeps burning down!)
In the morning you can buy food at the markets here, which has been here for ages!

Favorite thing: The best thing is to take a trip down the Grand Canal and saok in the beauty! There is nothing in then world like approaching the Rialto Bridge--you can't believe it's true! Or seeing Santa Maria della Salute.. I could go on and on.....

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Favorite thing: Venice is divided up into sestieri, or neighborhoods. Try to get lost (if you have the time!) --you will know where you are by the piazza you are standing in. Our favorite neighborhoods are Cannaregio, San Polo, Castello, and we always ended up eating at Campo Santa Margherita at Antico Capon for pizza. Don't ask for directions, because you will not find an address by "house number and street". Instead, look for the sestiere or campo (square) to figure out your whereabouts. Oh, and the signs with arrows pointing you to Rialto or San Marco may not help, either. We saw arrows for Rialto pointing left and right--go figure!

Fondest memory: This is a major landmark in Venice. The Rialto Bridge spans across the Grand Canal and is heavily used by many pedestrians to cross from one side to the other. On the bridge itself there are a lot of shops and stands that sell gifts and souvenirs. The bridge can become crowded at times.