Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence. Ponte Vecchio: the "golden" bridge of Florence. Vasari Corridor: passage for nobles and art gallery

Each city has its own building, which is its symbol, associated with the city. Along with Cathedral Florence, old bridge Renaissance period called Ponte Vecchio - the brightest place in the city

The most famous bridge in Florence, as well as the oldest of the city's bridges. Ponte Vecchio - a structure with three stone arches built to replace the old one wooden bridge, which crossed the Arno River in this place since Roman times. The upper side of the bridge, known as the Vasariano Corridor, was designed by the architect Vasari to link the Palazzo Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery with the Pitti Palace. Today it houses a famous art gallery.

This bridge is built up and inhabited by people. Initially there were grocery stores, but by the end of the 15th century Ponte Vecchio was chosen by jewelers and silversmiths. Located in the middle of the bridge open area from where you can watch the river and its banks

It is said that this is where the economic concept of bankruptcy came from: when a seller could no longer pay his debts, soldiers would come and smash (rotto) his trading shop (banco). This practice became known as “bancorotto” (broken table). Since the merchant no longer had a table, he was unable to sell anything else.

During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by the Germans during their retreat on August 4, 1944, unlike all other bridges in Florence. Hitler's special order was given to leave the bridge intact. Access to it was, however, hampered by ruined buildings on both sides of the river. Later, all buildings were rebuilt, some of them original projects, and part of the new

Along the Ponte Vecchio, there have always been many locks attached to various places, especially on the railings around the statue of Benvenuto Celini. This tradition has recently appeared in Florence, although it has existed in Russia and Asia for a long time (for example, the bridge of love in Moscow). The owner of the lock shop at the end of the bridge contributed to this. Lovers hang locks: closing the lock and throwing the key into the river, which symbolizes eternal love. This is a good example of the negative impact of mass tourism: thousands of castles were periodically removed, spoiling or damaging the structure of the century-old bridge. Over time, they stopped doing this, after the city government placed a sign on the bridge, mentioning a fine of 50? for one lock of love. It turned out that those who want to seal their love for 50? significantly less

The Old Bridge (Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio) in Florence across the Arno River in 1345 on the site of an ancient Roman bridge, demolished by flood. Initially, butchers' shops were located here, animal carcasses were butchered on the spot, and waste was thrown into the river. In general, the smell around was very strong, especially in the summer heat.

Soon the Old Bridge became a bustling city trade site. Shops merchants were located right on the bridge. Presumably, the concept of "bankruptcy" appeared here. If the merchant could not pay his debts, then the city guards broke his shop. So from the two words "counter" (banco) and "broken" (rotto) came the word "bankrupt".

According to legend, Mussolini made the windows in the center of the bridge for Hitler so that the Fuhrer could admire the view of Florence. According to one version, Hitler wanted to blow up the bridge during the retreat, but the partisans prevented him.

This is the first bridge in history to use such arches. The bridge consists of three arches, the length of the central arch is 30 meters, the height is 4.4 meters, the side arches are smaller: the length is 27 meters, the height is 3.5 meters.

This time we got lucky with the weather.

Old bridge at the beginning of the 20th century

In the 16th century, the ruler of Florence, Duke Cosimo I de Medici, drew attention to the area of ​​the Old Bridge, at the behest of the Duke, rich jewelry shops were located here. The Old Bridge received the second name "Golden Bridge", the status of which has changed dramatically.

“There is a bridge in Florence called the Old Bridge. It is still built up with houses; workshops of gold and silver items were located in these houses.

True, these were not products in the modern sense: the manufacture of gold and silver things is a craft today; before it was art. That is why there was nothing in the world more wonderful than these workshops, or, rather, the objects that adorned them; there were rounded onyx goblets girded with writhing dragons—fairy-tale monsters lifted their heads, stretched out their azure wings studded with golden stars, and, opening their fire-breathing maws, looked menacingly at each other with their ruby ​​eyes...

And all this was not only skillfully executed, but conceived with poetic inspiration; not only charming, as charming trinkets for decorating a ladies' boudoir, but magnificent, like the greatest works of art that can immortalize the reign of a king or the spirit of a nation ... "- this is how Alexandre Dumas described the Old Bridge in the novel Ascanio.

Duke Cosimo I de Medici, who made the Old Bridge Golden.

Eleanor of Toledo, wife of Cosimo de' Medici. (Grandmother of the French Queen Marie de Medici)

In honor of the marriage of his son Francesco and Princess Jeanne of Austria, the ruler ordered the construction of a corridor connecting two city squares Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, which passed over the buildings of the bridge.

The Medici family was not noble, descended from a family of bankers, and Cosimo wanted to impress his new royal relatives.

Heir - Francesco Medici

His fiancee, Princess Joan of Austria, for whom a secret corridor was built.
Judging by the portrait, the princess was capricious.

Cosimo Medici ordered that dormer windows be made in the gallery above the bridge in order to eavesdrop on what the common people were saying about him.

The secret passage was named the Vasari Corridor in honor of the architect who embodied the idea of ​​the Medici.

Street art on the theme of the Middle Ages

Now located in the Vasari Corridor art Gallery, which also contains works by Russian artists Kustodiev and Kiprensky.

The road from the bridge to central square.

Mannelli Tower

The Vasari Corridor ran through the city buildings. The noble Mannelli family was the only one who resisted the passage of the Corridor through their property, as happened for other buildings. The Mannelli insisted that the Corridor be built around the tower.

Legend has it that the Mannelli family paid a tax to the Medici for several years for their intervention in the project.

"At noon, cats look under the benches to see if they're black.
shadows. On the Old Bridge - now it's been fixed -
where he busts against the background of the blue hills of Cellini,
briskly trade in all kinds of branzuletka;
waves sort out the branch, murmuring behind the branch.
And the golden strands leaning for a rare
a thing of beauty, rummaging between boxes
under the unsatisfied glances of young merchants,
seem to be the trace of an angel in the realm of the blackheads."
As the poet Joseph Brodsky wrote.

In 1901, a monument to Benvenuto Cellini, the famous sculptor and jeweler of the 16th century, was erected on the bridge. Who is familiar with the work of A. Dumas, for sure, read the novel "Ascanio" about the adventures of this talented person.

Monument to the jeweler Benvenuto Cellini on the Old Bridge. Near the building on the roof of which (top right) you can see medieval sundial established in the 14th century.

View from the Old Bridge to the Arno River.

During the Second World War, when the German troops left Florence, it was decided to blow up all the city's bridges in order to delay the enemy's rapid advance. Five of the six bridges were actually blown up, but the sixth - the Ponte Vecchio bridge in Florence was miraculously saved.

History and description of the famous bridge of Florence

The bridge has been connecting the banks of the Arno River since time immemorial, which is why its current name translates as "Old Bridge". Probably, the bridge here was built in the time of the Etruscans, and with the advent of the Romans, it was already rebuilt in a new wooden look. Since that time, the bridge has always stood in this place, and after the destruction it is diligently rebuilt.

The Arno River is distinguished by its violent behavior. Throughout history, her hostile attitude has completely destroyed the bridge many times. One of the first documented evidence of such an event dates back to the distant year 972. Then comes a series of restorations and destructions, until in 1332 a a stone bridge.

By this time, the city acquires several more bridges across the Arno. But severe flood 1333 once again amends the city plan. The water level in the central square of Florence at that time exceeded a meter, the city walls were damaged, more than 300 people died. Mars was considered the patron saint of the city, whose statue was installed at the entrance of Ponte Vecchio, but the flood did not spare her either. Later, a statue of St. John the Baptist was erected in its place, and since then the elements have no longer violated the strength of the bridge.

After the flood, Ner di Fioravante and Taddeo Gaddi took up the problem of the stability of the bridge. In 1335-1345, they carried out work on the construction and strengthening of a new bridge, which was no longer supposed to collapse under the onslaught of clearing water. Since that time, the bridge has been standing to this day, becoming calling card Florence.

The use of segmental arches made it the first bridge of its kind in all of Europe. The covered bridge consists of three arches rising 4.4 meters. The central span reaches 30 meters, the side spans are slightly smaller - 27 meters each. It is noteworthy that the bridge is made wide - as much as 32 meters.

From the Middle Ages to the present day, merchants' shops have been located on the bridge. Initially, there were butchers and tanners here, but a smart council decided to remove them from the symbol of Florence, replacing them with "noble" jewelers and other precious metal craftsmen. This is reminiscent of the statue of Benvenuto Cellini, the patron saint of jewelers in Italy, installed here.

Benvenuto Cellini

In 1565, the bridge was supplemented by a covered gallery connecting the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti. The building was designed by Vasari, which is why it is called the “Vazarino corridor”. The gallery located above the merchants' shops offers a great view of the Arno River and Florence.

Corridor Vazarino

Another major flood occurred in 1966. All the shops were washed away, but the Ponte Vecchio bridge survived. A truly eternal bridge, which is famous for being popular with tourists visiting glorious city Florence.

There are many different bridges, but Ponte Vecchio is the most striking and famous of all. The bridge lies across the river Arno. It began to be built instead of the old wooden one in 1345. The architects of the bridge were Neri di Fioravante and Taddeo Gaddi.

The Vasariano Corridor is just the upper side of the bridge and contains a gallery. Initially, the bridge was built up only with grocery stores, but over time, jewelers began to trade there, and ordinary residents settled. During World War II, Hitler gave the order to leave the Ponte Vecchio intact, unlike all other bridges in Florence. The only time the bridge was damaged was due to the flooding of the Arno River in 1966.

In the middle of the bridge there is a platform from which you can view a beautiful picturesque landscape. On Ponte Vecchio there is a private corridor owned by the Medici family, which can be entered if you book tickets. A bust of Benvenuto Cellini, a famous Italian sculpture, jeweler and painter, was built on the bridge.

Ponte Vecchio on the map

Where is Ponte Vecchio located on the map of Florence, how to get there

The Ponte Vecchio bridge is one of the oldest bridges, which is known far beyond the borders of Italy. Its name is translated from Italian like the old bridge. Along with the Cathedral and the Uffizi Gallery, it is the hallmark of Florence. On numerous postcards and souvenirs, it is easy to recognize the unusual appearance of the bridge in the rays of the bright sun or night illumination. It spread across the Arno River and connects two parts of the busy city at its narrowest point. Thousands of tourists go to the bridge every day to capture it in a photo and feel the spirit of antiquity.

Ponte Vecchio in history

The Ponte Vecchio bridge acquired its present appearance in 1345. He supervised the construction of such a reliable and beautiful bridge architect Neri Fiorovanti. Prior to this, the structure was destroyed several times and restored again.

The first crossing was built during the time of the Roman Empire, when veterans of a large army settled in the city. The bridge was supported on wooden piles, but they were not strong enough to withstand a powerful current. The collapse occurred in 1117. Instead of a wooden one, a stone bridge was quickly built. He served for several centuries, but by 1333 the city was overtaken by a severe flood. The bridge fortifications were weakened, and most of sections collapsed. Only a few central bars remain.

After the final reconstruction, the Ponte Vecchio acquired an elegant shape with arched vaults. This helped to give the structure maximum stability. The entire length of the bridge is divided into three arches. The length of the central one is 30 m, and the side ones reach only 27 m.

A century after its construction, in the 15th century, the first trading shops appeared on the bridge. Meat sellers settled here, who were expelled from the streets of Florence. Due to the unpleasant smell, many townspeople were unhappy with the proximity to the butchers. There were more sellers than expected. All of them did not fit on the bridge, so extensions of several floors or houses hanging over the water began to appear.

By the beginning of the XVII century. butchers were supplanted by jewelry dealers. Since then, the second name has been attached to the bridge - the Golden Bridge. In the same period, a spacious terrace was equipped in the central part, so that those who wish could admire the views of the river and the surrounding area.

The bridge has always been a place of lively trade and crowds, which was not always convenient. For example, the Duke of Florence could not travel freely from his residence in the Pitti Palace to the place of reception of subjects in the Palazzo Vecchio. To solve this problem, the architect Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to construct a corridor-shaped road above all the extensions of the bridge. The total length of the corridor was over a kilometer. It was a covered corridor with small dormer windows to control the situation outside.

recent history

A year before the outbreak of World War II, a tour of the Ponte Vecchio was given to Adolf Hitler himself. Numerous arches, shops and a picturesque panorama made an indelible impression on him. When the German offensive against Italy began, all bridges except Ponte Vecchio were destroyed. There is an opinion that it was Hitler who ordered the preservation of the design that had previously conquered him.

Although the crossing served much longer than all its predecessors, a severe flood in 1966 caused great damage to it. Because of big rainfall The water level in the river rose to the very base of the bridge. Waves shattered glass and destroyed the interior of the shops. Most of the trading places were completely destroyed, but the functional parts of the structure remained unscathed.

architectural features

The western edge of the bridge is adorned with a bust of Benvenuto Cellini (a famous jeweler), which appeared here at the very beginning of the 20th century. Later, a forged fence appeared around, on which lovers often cling decorative locks. Even in European countries this tradition is quite young, but very popular. In just a few months, locks of various shapes and sizes appear in unimaginable numbers. The city authorities are regularly engaged in their removal. To reduce the number of precedents, a fine was introduced. For each lock you will have to pay 50 euros.

Today, just like several centuries ago, Ponte Vecchio houses the most expensive jewelry stores, which please with a very large assortment. Many tourists visit shops to admire unusual products, but only a few decide to buy jewelry at inflated prices.

Alas, travelers will not be able to visit the Vasari corridor. Its doors are closed to visitors. They say that it contains many self-portraits of a certain R. Zanieri.

At night, bright illumination turns on on the bridge, so tourists should take a walk around the neighborhood in the evening or at night.

How to get there

Florence - Big City, in which several railway stations. This allows you to make a convenient route from any corner of the planet. Immediate international airports located in Milan and Rome. Also coming here tourist buses from neighboring cities. At railway stations and tourist centers you can buy a map of the city to quickly navigate and find all the sights of interest.