Velence hídjai: történetek víz és ég között

Velence, a víz városa par excellence, elképzelhetetlen lenne ikonikus hídjai nélkül, amelyek 121 szigetet kötnek össze csatornákon és folyócskákon keresztül. Több mint 435 szerkezet emelkedik a vízi utak fölé, s minden híd, legyen az nagy vagy kicsi, saját történetet mesél el, legendákat őriz, és egyedi kilátást nyújt a lagúnák városára.

Ezeken az építészeti remekműveken keresztül vezető utazás lehetővé teszi, hogy megértsük a velenceiek leleményességét, és főként egy olyan város fejlődését, amely a környezethez való alkalmazkodást tette legnagyobb erősségévé.

The four bridges over the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal, the city’s main waterway, is crossed by four bridges that have marked the history of the city, each with its own features and story to tell.

Rialto Bridge: the commercial heart of Venice

The Rialto Bridge – probably the most famous bridge in the world – is an important connecting point in the city between the districts of San Marco and San Polo.

Its origins date back to the end of the 12th century, when the first crossing was built using boats tied together. Over time, however, the structure was replaced by wooden bridges, which collapsed several times due to excessive weight and wear and tear. This was due to the huge number of people passing through the area towards the Rialto Market (from which the bridge took its name) and because it was the only bridge connecting the two banks of the Grand Canal.

Therefore, the Republic of Venice decided to hold a competition for the design of a stone bridge, in which famous architects such as Palladio and Michelangelo submitted their projects. Antonio da Ponte won the competition, and between 1588 and 1591, the building we still admire today was built: an elegant and imposing bridge consisting of a single 31.8-metre arch made of Istrian stone.

The bridge, which historically housed artisan workshops, is now lined with souvenir shops, but its structure has always remained the same, bearing witness to an era when engineering merged with art.

Accademia Bridge: a view over the Grand Canal

The Accademia Bridge, also known as the Ponte della Carità, connects San Vidal with the former Church of Santa Maria della Carità, home to the Accademia Galleries.

Originally built in 1854 by Austrian engineer Alfred Neville as an iron bridge, its industrial design was never loved by the Venetians, who considered it out of place with the city’s architecture.

In 1933, during the Fascist period, it was decided to replace it with a wooden bridge designed by Eugenio Miozzi, intended as a temporary structure pending the construction of a permanent stone bridge. However, that “temporary” bridge was never replaced and today, after restoration work in the 1980s, it remains one of the most picturesque bridges over the Grand Canal.

Its wooden design (which conceals a steel core) gives it a special, almost romantic charm. It is one of the favourite spots for Venetians and visitors alike to admire the sunset over the Grand Canal, and over the years it has also become famous for the love padlocks hung by lovers on its railings, in a tradition similar to that of the Milvio Bridge in Rome.

Ponte degli Scalzi: the gateway to the city

Located a few steps from Santa Lucia Railway Station, Ponte degli Scalzi is often the first bridge that visitors cross when arriving in Venice by train. Designed in 1858 in cast iron, it was rebuilt in 1932 in Istrian stone to better blend in with Venetian architecture and to ensure greater solidity, considering the incredible number of people who crossed it.

Its unusual name comes from the nearby Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth, known as “degli Scalzi”, because it was once the site of a convent of the Discalced Carmelites.

Today, the bridge offers a wonderful view over the Grand Canal and the historic buildings that line it, and is an obligatory crossing point for those heading towards the city centre.

Constitution Bridge: tradition and modernity

The Constitution Bridge – also known as Calatrava Bridge – is the most recent of the four bridges over the Grand Canal, as well as the most controversial.

Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and inaugurated in 2008, the Constitution Bridge has a span of 180 metres and connects Piazzale Roma, the main hub for reaching the historic centre of Venice from the mainland, with the Santa Lucia railway station.

Its modern design, characterised by a steel arch and tempered glass floors, has divided public opinion: some appreciate its innovation and contemporary design, while others consider it out of place in the Venetian historical context and difficult to use because of its structure. It is also known as the “glass bridge” because of its transparent (and slippery, especially in winter or when it rains) steps, which allow you to see the water below.

Despite the controversy, the bridge is an example of how Venice embraces modernity while still closely tied to its thousand-year history.

Other iconic bridges in Venice

In addition to the four bridges over the Grand Canal, Venice has other bridges that tell fascinating and unique stories. Some are famous throughout the world, others are less well known but no less impressive.

Bridge of Sighs: between lost freedom and romance

The Bridge of Sighs is perhaps, after the Rialto Bridge, the most popular bridge in Venice. Built in the early 1600s in Istrian stone to a design by Antonio Contino, this Baroque-style bridge connects the Doge’s Palace to the New Prisons.

Its evocative name comes from a romantic but rather sad tradition: it is said that prisoners, crossing it after being condemned by the State Inquisitors, sighed as they took a last look at the lagoon and their lost freedom. The bridge, just 11 metres long, has thus become a symbol of melancholy and destiny, but also of love, thanks to the legend that couples who kiss in a gondola passing under it are destined for eternal love.

It is possible to visit the Bridge of Sighs from the inside only by taking a tour of the Doge’s Palace, an experience where you can walk in the footsteps of the condemned and better understand the history of the Serenissima.

Liberty Bridge: the link with the mainland

When one thinks of Venice’s bridges, one imagines ancient structures over narrow canals. But there is one bridge that tells a different story, that of the link between Venice and the mainland: the Liberty Bridge.

At 3,850 metres long, it is one of the longest bridges in Italy. Its construction began in 1841, under Austrian occupation, to connect Venice to Milan by rail. The first train crossed the bridge on 11 January 1846, as a revolution for the city: for the first time in its thousand-year history, Venice was physically connected to the mainland.

But that’s not all: 80,000 larch poles and 21 million bricks were used to build it, an extraordinary engineering feat. At the time, the bridge was the longest in the world and turned Venice into a peninsula, changing its relationship with the rest of Italy forever.

In 1933, under the Fascist regime, the road bridge designed by engineer Eugenio Miozzi was inaugurated. Originally called Ponte Littorio, it was renamed Ponte della Libertà (“Liberty Bridge”) in 1945, following liberation from Nazi-Fascism.

Today, Liberty Bridge is the main gateway to Venice for those arriving by car or bus, as well as the only road leading to Piazzale Roma and the island of Tronchetto. Crossing it means witnessing a gradual change in the landscape: the mainland gradually gives way to the lagoon, the contours of the city become increasingly clear, until Venice reveals itself in all its beauty.

An interesting fact is that along the route, a monument commemorates the Austrian siege of 1849, recalling one of the most difficult moments in Venetian history. The bridge, therefore, is not just a structure: it is a symbol of freedom, openness and connection between a city unique in the world and the rest of the continent.

Ponte Chiodo: witness to a past era

One of Venice’s most unusual bridges is located in the Cannaregio district: Ponte Chiodo. It is one of the last two bridges in the city (along with Ponte del Diavolo in Torcello) to remain without parapets, the so-called “bande” that have been added to most Venetian bridges for safety reasons.

Ponte Chiodo is a private bridge leading to a residential area, therefore less frequented by outsiders. Its ancient structure, dating back to the 15th century, offers an authentic glimpse of Venice in times gone by, when bridges were essential but also dangerous crossings, especially at night or at high tide.

Discovering it means venturing into the city’s less touristy routes, those that reveal the truest and most hidden soul of Venice.

Ponte della Paglia: Venice’s first postcard

The Ponte della Paglia crosses the Rio di Palazzo and connects the pier of Piazzetta di San Marco with the Riva degli Schiavoni. Built around 1360, it is one of the first stone bridges in Venice and still retains its original side “bands”.

Its curious name comes from its ancient use: boats loaded with straw and hay for animal feed and roof covering used to moor here. The bridge was also a checkpoint for the straw trade, managed by the soldiers of the Serenissima.

Today, the Ponte della Paglia is one of the most crowded places in Venice, mainly because it offers the best view of the Bridge of Sights. It is a must-see spot for photographs, a place to stop for a moment before diving into the chaos of St. Mark’s Square.

Discover Venice from Ca’Savio

Venice’s bridges are much more than simple crossings: they are silent witnesses to centuries of history, privileged spots overlooking the beauty of the city, where you can stop and let yourself be enveloped by Serenissima’s unique atmosphere.

From Camping Ca’Savio, located in the natural setting of Cavallino, Venice is easily accessible, so you can spend a day discovering its bridges, each with a story to tell.

Ca’Savio also offers guided tours of Venice, where you can discover the city from different points of views, as well as pleasant boat trips to Murano, Burano and Torcello, alternating with more relaxing moments to be enjoyed at the campsite.

Are you curious to overstay in a place steeped in history and nature? Book your next holiday at Camping Ca’Savio now!