Ponte Vecchio is a one of the most famous landmarks of Florence. Current version of bridge will celebrate its 700 years birthday soon but bridge at this place stood since the Roman times.
In ancient times the bridge was on the Via Cassia road which connected Rome with a north Italy. During centuries it was only one structure which had connected two banks of the Florence.
When in 1117 bridge has been destroyed by another overflow, the city’s authorities allotted funds for building first stone bridge in Florence. That bridge stood next two centuries and has been destroyed during the flood of 1333. In 1345 began construction of current version of Ponte Vecchio.
Then bridge got its current name - Ponte Vecchio (old bridge). And it’s worth mentioning that in 14 and 15 centuries bridge was important part of the Florence’s fortifications. It protected city from the attacks from the river side.
In 1565 Duke of Florence Cosimo the First ordered his architect Vasari to build concealed passage over the bridge to allow him defended pass from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. Vasari did all work only for five months and was very proud of it. He also refurbished the bridge a little bit.
First shops on the bridge which you definitely will notice during you visit into Florence appeared here from its beginning. But initially there were mostly the shops of fishmongers who threw into the river entrails of fishes. We can only imagine the stench which was over the bridge.
No surprising that when Cosimo started to use passage he was exasperated by it and prohibited the fish selling here. After bridge was occupied by the tanners who used the river for soaking their hides. Finally Duke Ferdinando the First ousted all sellers from Ponte Vecchio and established on the bridge the set of jewelry shops. Many of famous Renaissance artists (for example Donatello) polished their skills in these shops.
In the 1900 at the middle of the bridge was established bust of Benvenuto Cellini to commemorate this master who also began his carrier at Ponte Vecchio.
To recap this story let me mention that in 1944 it was only the one bridge in Florence which has not been destroyed by the German troops which retreated before the advancing American Fifth Army.
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