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Ponte Vecchio is the oldest surviving bridge in Florence, rebuilt in its current form in 1345 after a devastating flood. The bridge is distinctive for the rows of shops built along both sides, a practice that dates to the 13th century. In 1593, Grand Duke Ferdinando I banned butchers and tanners from the bridge and replaced them with goldsmiths and jewellers, whose successors still trade here today. The Vasari Corridor runs along the top of the east side, connecting the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti above street level.
Walking across the bridge is free and available at any hour. The central opening between the shop rows offers framed views of the Arno in both directions. Ponte Vecchio was the only Florentine bridge spared from German demolition during the retreat from Florence in August 1944. The best photographs of the bridge itself come from the upstream Ponte Santa Trinita or from the Lungarno embankment paths on either bank.
Pro Tip: Visit at dawn or after 20:00 when the jewellery shops are shuttered and the crowds thin out. The bridge at night, lit by warm lamplight reflected on the Arno, looks completely different from its daytime self.
