Bridge · Venice, Italy
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto; Venetian: Ponte de Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Built 1588–1591.
Photo: kallerna via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Venice, Italy |
|---|---|
| Type | Bridge |
| Built | 1588–1591 |
| Architect | Antonio da Ponte |
| Height | Height: 6.7 m |
| Coordinates | 45.4380° N, 12.3360° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Rialto Bridge is known for
The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto; Venetian: Ponte de Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.
About Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto; Venetian: Ponte de Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. Connecting the sestieri (districts) of San Marco and San Polo, it has been rebuilt several times since its first construction as a pontoon bridge in 1173, and is now a significant tourist attraction in the city. The present stone bridge is a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte.
History
The first dry crossing of the Grand Canal was a pontoon bridge built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. It was called the Ponte della Moneta, presumably because of the mint that stood near its eastern entrance. The development and importance of the Rialto market on the eastern bank increased traffic on the floating bridge, so it was replaced in 1255 by a wooden bridge.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Venice |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Venezia / Tessera - Marco Polo Airport (VCE) |
| Distance from the airport | 4.4 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) · Venezia (VE), Italy · 4.7 miles away
- Treviso Airport (TSF) · Treviso (TV), Italy · 16.1 miles away
- Trieste Airport (TRS) · Ronchi dei Legionari/Trieste, Italy · 60.9 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Italy
More bridges
Frequently asked questions
What is Rialto Bridge?
The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto; Venetian: Ponte de Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.
Where is Rialto Bridge located?
Rialto Bridge is in Venice, Italy. Its coordinates are 45.4380° N, 12.3360° E.
How do I get to Rialto Bridge?
The nearest town is Venice, and the nearest airport is Venezia / Tessera - Marco Polo Airport (VCE), about 4.4 miles away (straight line).
When was Rialto Bridge built?
Rialto Bridge was built 1588–1591.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rialto_Bridge — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q52505 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.