Contenus masquer
1 History and curiosities
2 Practical information about the Ponte Vecchio
3 Photo gallery
4 Tours and Discoveries
5 Where is the Ponte Vecchio: map
6 Information

The Ponte Vecchio (lit. “the Old Bridge”) is one of the most famous and picturesque landmarks in Florence.
The street running across it is lined with jewelry and goldsmith shops, continuing a Florentine tradition dating back to the Renaissance.
Built in 1345, it is traditionally attributed to Taddeo Gaddi, a pupil of Giotto, although Neri di Fioravante is more likely to have been the architect.

Constructed at the narrowest point of the Arno, it rests on three large arches and replaced an ancient Roman bridge destroyed by the flood of 1333, when embankments were built to channel the river.

Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Ponte Vecchio

This lively passage attracts travelers and craft enthusiasts, but also offers superb views of the banks of the Arno.

History and curiosities

In the Middle Ages, the bridge’s shops were occupied by butchers, tanners, and blacksmiths. At the end of the 16th century, Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici ordered their replacement with jewelers and goldsmiths, in order to give the place a more prestigious image and to reduce nuisances. In 1565, Giorgio Vasari built the famous Vasari Corridor above the shops. This covered passage linked the Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace, allowing the Medici to cross the city discreetly and safely, without mingling with the crowd.

  • The bridge measures about 95 meters in length and 32 meters in width, a space that combines monumentality with intimacy.
  • It is one of the few bridges in the world to have continuously retained a commercial function since the Middle Ages.
Florence Ponte Vecchio and Arno in the 18th century - by Moricci

Ponte Vecchio and the Arno in the 18th century – by Moricci

  • The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence to have survived World War II: it was spared in 1944 by direct order of Hitler.
  • Since the mid-20th century, an opening in the Vasari Corridor has offered a unique viewpoint over the Arno.

Practical information about the Ponte Vecchio

  • The bridge is open 24/7 for pedestrian crossing.
  • Access is free to cross the bridge itself.
  • The shops located on the bridge have more limited hours: generally from 9 or 10 a.m. until around 7 p.m., sometimes 7:30 p.m. depending on the season.
  • The Vasari Corridor, the historic elevated passage above the shops, reopened to the public in December 2024 after several years of restoration work.
  • Motor traffic is prohibited: the Ponte Vecchio is reserved for pedestrians.

Photo gallery

The Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The street and the shops of Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence
The Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Tours and Discoveries

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Where is the Ponte Vecchio: map

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