Rialto Bridge history in short
The first crossing at Rialto was a bridge of boats. A wooden bridge followed. In the late 1500s the city replaced it with the stone arch that stands today. The architect was Antonio da Ponte. His nephew Antonio Contin worked with him, so the bridge is not the work of one man alone.
Building began in 1588 and ended in 1591 or 1592, depending on how the building period is counted. Since then the bridge has crossed the Grand Canal in a single span between San Polo and San Marco, next to the old trading district of Rialto.
You can hear this story on the spot on a Rialto walking tour. Meeting points differ by tour, for example Campo San Bartolomeo or San Giacomo di Rialto. The other crossings of the canal are covered in the guide to the bridges over the Grand Canal.
Our pick: see the history on foot
Our take: a guided walk puts the bridge in context with the rest of the old city.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tours that start near the Rialto Bridge
Walking tours and food tours around Rialto, San Polo and the market, with live prices and availability.
Before the stone bridge: boat bridge and wooden bridge
The crossing at Rialto changed form several times.
The boat bridge
The earliest crossing at Rialto was a bridge of boats. A wooden bridge later took its place.
The wooden bridge
The rebuilt wooden bridge had a movable middle section and shops along it.
1310: fire
A fire during an uprising damaged the wooden bridge.
1444 and 1524: two collapses
The bridge collapsed under a crowd in 1444 and fell again in 1524.
Antonio da Ponte and Antonio Contin
Antonio da Ponte is the architect of the stone bridge. Antonio Contin, his nephew, took part in the work. Contin and Benetto Banelli worked as sottoproto, deputies under da Ponte. Contin is therefore a co-builder, not the sole designer.
The result is a single arch of Istrian stone with shops built into the structure. Measurements, the shops and the foundations are on the Rialto Bridge facts page.
The bridge in pictures
Two images show the bridge in earlier centuries. Canaletto painted the stone bridge from the south. Michele Marieschi made an engraving of the bridge together with the market at its foot. Both pictures show what you still see today: one arch, with trade right beside it.
Compare them on site. The arch is the same, the shops are still built into the structure, and the market district still lies on the San Polo side.
Rialto Bridge timeline
The dates that matter, in order.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1310 | Fire during an uprising damages the wooden bridge |
| 1444 | Collapse under a crowd |
| 1524 | Another collapse |
| 1588 | Building of the stone bridge begins |
| 1591 or 1592 | Stone bridge completed |
| 2012 | OTB wins the city's sponsor tender for the restoration |
| 2015 | Restoration work starts, from May |
| 2016 or 2017 | Main restoration work finished |
For most visitors, three dates are enough: 1588 for the start, 1591 or 1592 for the finished bridge, and 2015 for the start of the restoration.
The restoration
OTB won the city's sponsor tender in 2012 and provided €5 million for the restoration. Renzo Rosso, OTB and the OTB Foundation were involved in the project.
Work started in May 2015. The main phases ended in 2016 or 2017, and later work followed. Today the bridge is a free public walkway.
The old trading district around the bridge is described on the Rialto market page. The building next to the bridge on the San Marco side has its own page: Fondaco dei Tedeschi.
See the history on site
Three places to read the bridge in person.
Rialto Bridge history: frequently asked questions
When was the Rialto Bridge built?
Building began in 1588. The stone bridge was finished in 1591 or 1592. It replaced a wooden bridge that had been rebuilt after collapses in 1444 and 1524.
Who designed the Rialto Bridge?
Antonio da Ponte designed the stone bridge. His nephew Antonio Contin worked with him as a deputy under his direction.
Was there a bridge before the stone one?
Yes. First came a boat bridge, then a wooden bridge with a movable middle section and shops. A fire in 1310 and collapses in 1444 and 1524 damaged the wooden bridge.
Who paid for the restoration?
OTB won the city's sponsor tender in 2012 and provided €5 million. Renzo Rosso, OTB and the OTB Foundation were involved. Work began in May 2015.
Can I walk across the bridge for free?
Yes. It is a public footpath over steps, and there is no bridge ticket. The city's access fee for day visitors, which applied on selected days from 3 April to 26 July 2026, was never a bridge ticket.
Is this the official website of the Rialto Bridge?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by the city of Venice, a museum, a restoration sponsor or a tour operator.