Ponte Vecchio
The Arno River bridge rebuilt in 1345, lined with goldsmith and jewelry shops, with the Vasari Corridor of the Medici family on the upper level. Florence's most classic river view.
The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. The present structure was rebuilt in 1345 after a flood, and it is the only bridge over the Arno that was not destroyed by German forces during World War II. The overhanging shops on both sides were originally butcher shops. In 1593, Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici ordered them converted into goldsmith and jewelry shops, a tradition that continues today. At the central opening stands a bust of the goldsmith Cellini, which overlooks the river upstream and downstream. The upper level is the Vasari Corridor, a private passage built for the Medici family in 1565 that links the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace. It reopened in 2024 and requires a separate ticket. The best panoramic view is from the Ponte Santa Trinita downstream or the Ponte alle Grazie upstream. The golden light at dusk and the lights at night are especially beautiful. The bridge deck is open and free to cross all day, but crowds are huge during the day, so watch out for pickpockets. It is a 3-minute walk from the Piazza della Signoria or the Uffizi. On the far side lies the Oltrarno district and the Pitti Palace.
Opening hours
Bridge open all day; shops approx. 10:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Uffizi Gallery
- Museo Galileo
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
- Palazzo Pitti & Boboli Gardens
- Oltrarno & Basilica of Santo Spirito
- Giotto's Campanile
- Bargello National Museum