Florence - Ponte Vecchio

The Romans may have had a bridge here, spanning the Arno at its narrowest point. The "Via Cassia" crossed Florentia, a settlement founded 80 BC for veteran soldiers.

For sure a bridge existed in 996. This bridge got destroyed by a flood in 1117, rebuilt - and swept away again in 1333. It was rebuilt again in 1345. Shops existed on the bridge already in medieval times (like on many bridges in Europe), but then probably butchers offered their goods here. Meanwhile jewellery and souvenirs are offered to the thousands of tourists, using the Ponte Vecchio every day. Even during a very rainy day!

In 1944 the retreating German army destroyed all bridges in Florence - except the Ponte Vecchio!