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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Ponte Vecchio

Initially built during Roman times, the Ponte Vecchio (Italian for Old Bridge) always seems to be in the middle of the action in Florence.  After being washed away more than once by floods, it was most recently rebuilt in 1345.  What makes the bridge so unique is all of the quaint shops lining either side, along with the private passageway across the top.  The passageway, called the Vasari corridor, was built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari to offer the Duke a safe transport from Palazzo Vecchio (city hall) on one side of the river, to the Pitti Palace (the Duke’s fancy new residence) on the other. Butchers originally dominated the shops lining the bridge, but when the Duke requested a more prestigious passageway, gold and silver merchants quickly replaced them and still reside today.  The Duke gets what the Duke wants.

Since those days, the bridges biggest threat came during World War II.  While the Germans were retreating through Florence, they destroyed all of the bridges except, you know which.  Apparently an express order from Hitler himself saved the landmark.  They instead destroyed the buildings at either end and blocked access to the bridge with the rubble.

The bridge is certainly one of the most photographed landmarks in Florence and I have taken my fair share.  You’ve already seen several shots show up in previous blogs, but here are a few more.