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There can be few sights that capture the alluring beauty of Florence better than the Ponte Vecchio, meaning "Old Bridge" in Italian, renowned for its timeless charm and history. Its soft yellow facade and mighty brick piers were gently illuminated under the soft light of the Tuscan sun and reflected in a perfect mirror image in the glassy waters of the river Arno, where my partner, our friends, family members, and I visited last Tuesday. First constructed in Medieval times, it was the only bridge across the Arno River up until 1218. Since the 13th century, shops have been populated with butchers, tanners, and fishmongers. The arrival of jewelers dates back to the late 16th century. As of today, 48 shops exclusively sell jewelry or high-end trinkets such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, pendants, and much more. One can even watch the goldsmiths craft their creations by hand through the shop windows. It does get crowded. We managed to escape the rain showers with the building covering. From the middle of the bridge at the plaza, one gets stunning views of the river and its surroundings. A must-visit spot for history, beauty, and atmosphere!
Ponte Vecchio is a medieval stone segmental arch bridge over the Arno River in Florence. It was the only bridge not destroyed in Florence during WWII. The romantic reason? That it was too beautiful to destroy. The military reason? It was too narrow for the Allies to cross. Not sure which explanation is true. Historically, the bridge has held a variety of shops. Initially, the bridge was filled with butchers, tanners and farmers selling their goods. Like a local farmers market and ranchers' market with produce, meat and fish. You can imagine the stench with all of the "fresh" foods and no refrigeration. This all changed when Cosimo I de'Medici got married. His new "princess" royal bride refused to live in the "old" castle, Palazzo Vecchio, next to where he worked. Eleonora wanted more space. She wanted a garden, that was removed from the crowded, city center. So, they bought and remodeled the huge Palazzo Pitti on the left bank of the River Arno and moved their growing family. But how to get to work? Walking through the streets of Florence like a commoner? Of course not. Cosimo commissioned Giorgio Vasari to build the Corridoio Vasariano. This suspended passageway runs between Palazzo Vecchio, Uffuzi and Palazzo Pitti so that the Grand Dukes and their court could move undisturbed between the spaces. An elevated corridor of 760 meters from its beginning to its end. The corridor passes over the streets, runs along the Arno River and crosses it. It enters palaces, bypasses the Mannelli Tower, overlooks the Church of Santa Felicita, and goes on with views over the city that allowed the Grand Dukes to enjoy its beauty and control it as well. So, what happened to the markets? Well, the powerful bankers and their wives did not want to enjoy the smell on their daily walk to work, so the fishmongers, butchers and farmers were kicked off the bridge and replaced by goldsmiths and jewelers. Those specialties still remain on the bridge to this day. A very interesting piece of history in Florence.
There are many hot spots for tourists in Firenze, and Ponte Vecchio is definitely one of them. It goes without saying that we wanted to take a visit while in the city, and during our explorations we found ourselves here on multiple occasions. Technically, the Ponte Vecchio is a stone arch bridge over the Arno - it's definitely pretty to look at and if you're crossing one of the adjacent bridges you can get some great shots of the buildings that line it. Besides the sight itself, what draws people to this area is all the shopping. The bridge is lined on both sides with jewelry stores - so many display windows its such a feast for the eyes. I definitely made a couple of laps just to see everything, and did end up purchasing a gift. Besides the bling, there are a few other retailers leading up to the bridge, as well as several restaurants with nice views of the water. Overall, it's definitely worth checking the Ponte Vecchio out - if not for a purchase then to take in the views.
One of the "things to do" when visiting Florence. Though it's very crowded and many of the tourists can be annoying and rude (don't be one of them!), it's still worth visiting. Plenty of shops, places to grab a quick bite, especially desserts, and some amazing views from the middle of the bridge.
This bridge is lined with gold shops on both sides of the street. Most of the shops are owned by the same company. I did buy some jewelry, but I felt like I was at a used car lot. Their prices are inflated, but I wanted souvenirs from Ponte Vecchio. They give you a high price. You ask about discounts and they will give you 5% off. Promise you that they will give you $ back in VAT, which is probably rolled into the quoted price anyways. Then they have to call their manager/owner to see if they can get you a better discount. Then they come back with 10% off. We spent a couple of hours looking at jewelry in each shop and this was the formula. It got old after a while.
Obviously, I am not visiting Florence and not visiting Ponte Vecchio. The history of this bridge, from it's inception all the way to WW2, is something to be marveled and we did just that. We were super lucky when we came, as the moment we stepped out onto the bridge, it started raining. This meant we were able to walk across it, and stop in the middle to take pics without many other people around. Everyone else was trying to stay dry and hiding. Not us. These raindrops had nothing on Vegas monsoon season. Obviously, the bridge itself is kind of blah. There are good views from the middle and if you're into super expensive tourist jewelry, this is your place, but I just liked knowing I was crossing this bridge. You know? There are quite a few places on both sides of the bridge, along the river, that provide great photo opportunities.
I've seen images of this bridge but never really knew anything about it. When we were in Florence, I just added Ponte Vecchio to our itinerary. As I was taking some photos of the bridge, I overheard a tour guide telling her group the windows are larger because they built that on purpose so Hitler could see the river better for strategic purposes. I'm not sure if that's factual or not but it did get me interested enough to Google the bridge after visiting. It turns out that this bridge is to Florence like the Colosseum to Rome. The bridge is the oldest bridge in Florence over Arno River and called "Old Bridge". There are many shops on the bridge that you can visit. I'm glad that I was able to visit and walk the bridge to be in the footsteps of many before me. Too bad the weather wasn't nicer and the river was so brown. It's still a must visit site in Florence regardless of the weather.
Ponte Vecchio is a living artistic monument to Florence's Renaissance past and a must see while visiting Firenze. While the original bridge was supposedly build by the Romans. The medieval replacement was a farmer's market. It had small shops, merchants and butchers for several hundred years. Today however, it's very modern with touristy type shops. But it's the view from the River Arno, which will leave you speechless and in awe, while wondering "now how did the do that?" See photos. Btw, unlike the Wiki version of WWII and Ponte Vecchio, our tour guide believes the bridge was wired with explosives and it was only saved by brave resistance fighters. You decide.
We had a bit of time to kill between lunch and our tour time at the Duomo. This site was only a 10-minute walk away (down streets busy with tourists and other pedestrians). We had planned to check it out at some point, so we went ahead then. The bridge itself has a somewhat medieval vibe. Both sides of the bridge are lined with 2-story shops with street-level display windows. All of these places sell jewelry, gold, silver, or expensive watches. I think this is now by ordinance. I don't know what percentage of visitors actually buy something, but it is interesting to just wander along and window-shop. While some places just have racks of gold chains, some places had more interesting sub-displays of figurines, odd themed cufflinks, etc. It appeared that traffic was allowed on the bridge, but it was unusual to see a vehicle there. They probably avoid it due to all the foot traffic that spills into the street. There are some good views from the bridge itself. At the midpoint, there is a gap between the shops so that you can look up or down stream. If the weather is nice, you can get good photos of other bridges over the river off into the distance. You can also get photos of the bridge itself if you walk along the river in either direction for a hundred yards or so. There appeared to be two types of locals who will try to engage with you: a) late middle-aged Italian ladies who get in your face and beg for money, and b) young African guys selling trinkets, but who often first try to strike up a seemingly random conversation. Both of these groups were really common near the historic / tourist areas. If you're in Florence and just want a quick walkable side trip, a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio is worthwhile, and is definitely a signature Florentine experience.
Really 3.5 stars but I rounded up. This is one of the many landmark bridges in Florence. Spanning the Arno river it makes for spectacular photography. I wont delve into a history lesson but the origins of the bridge go back to 996. It has been destroyed and rebuild throught it's history. Viewed from the other bridges it is a spectacular image. However crossing it is another story. I did so twice and may avoid it in the future. It was beyond packed and the selfie stick crowd taking shots for thier social media did not help matters. Once experienced it may be faster to take the up or down river bridges unless you need something right across. The shops and building are cool, but it screams tourist trap. The Uffizi side is fairly crowded but if you walk to the other side its thins out for up river views
When I first laid eyes on this mesmerizing old bridge I was walking on the north bank near the Galleria degli Uffizi. I did not know the history of the bridge when I first saw it on October 20, 2011. I found out later it could have been destroyed during World War II with the rest of the bridges in Florence. Ponte Vecchio means "Old Bridge". It was originally constructed in the year 996, was destroyed by floods a couple times, and most recently reconstructed in 1345. When I approached the entrance to the bridge I spotted many old locks attached to a gate and near a vintage looking bicycle. See my photo. I did not know the significance of these locks at the time, but it didn't surprise me to later find out there's a romantic legend to go along with this. The following website describes the legend of the Ponte Vecchio padlocks. http://www.firenzealbergo.it/EN/Experience-Florence/romantic-getaway/pages/leggende-amore-ponte-vecchio.aspx There are many jewelry shops on the bridge as well as many spots to take photos, especially in the middle where there is an open section that is perfect to take a seat. Looking toward the east you can see the Uffizi Gallery to the left and a little waterfall up the river. If you cross the street and look to the west you can see many of the other bridges. I am so happy I was able to see this exquisite old bridge in person and take lots of photos as a momento of the first time I saw it in person. read more
Beautiful views on this bridge. And so peaceful, except for this rude lady who told me to move out of her shots of her teen daughter (who was taking pics for awhile and wasn't that close to me). You can see the bridge too from my favorite spot in Florence, Piazzale Michangelo. read more
Ponte Vecchio, "Old Bridge," is picturesque scenic Italy at its very best. Without a doubt it is one of most famous, most photographed bridges of the world. Bridging over a gentle river, it exudes itself with an old world charm that could never be built or duplicated today. When walking across it, it brings about a certain romance and indeed you'll see plenty of lovers holding hands as they stroll along. Along both sides of the walkway are rather elegant boutique type shops, most of them being high to ultra-high end jewelry shops. And though there are plenty of tourists, you'll hardly know it as none of the shops are the low end trinket, t-shirt and cheap souvenir types so common to other touristy areas. If you are anywhere near the vicinity of Ponte Vecchio, it is a must see. read more
One of the stops while we were touring Florence was this infamous 3-section stone bridge. What makes it unique is that there are shops built along both sides of it with a fairly wide walkway in the middle for foot traffic only. The shops were originally occupied by butchers and fishmongers; today they're filled with less smelly business such as jewelers, tourist junk, and even knock-off designer goods laid out on blankets on the ground. The middle section features 3 open arches, great for viewing and taking pics of the Arno River that it crosses at its narrowest point. The different colors of the bridge stones, buildings, window shutters, and surrounding city-scape only add to its old-world charm. OVERALL: A free and highly photo opportunistic sight to see while in the area in addition to the Statue of David. read more
12 years ago
The Ponte Vecchio is an old Medieval stone bridge that spans the Arno River in Firenze. This beautiful and historic bridge is most famous for having shops built along either side of the bridge. These shops were first occupied by butchers, but in 1593 butchers were prohibited from occupying the shops in order to fill the shops with more prestigious gold merchants. Today the bridge maintains it's prestige and the Ponte Vecchio is lined with jewelry boutiques, art galleries, and souvenir shops. The Ponte Vecchio was initially constructed with wood and stone during Roman times in 996, but it was destroyed by a flood in 1117 and rebuilt in stone. Another flood swept away the bridge in 1333 and so it was rebuilt once again in 1345. The bridge managed to avoid any damage during World War II in 1944, unlike all other bridges in Firenze, but the bridge was severely damaged in the 1966 flood of the Arno. I highly recommend tourists to grab a cone of gelato at Perchè No! and stroll along the Ponte Vecchio for some great window shopping and people watching. read more
10 years ago
Chances are you'll walk over the Ponte Vecchio on a visit to Florence. I've visited the city twice, so I've probably transversed the bridge half a dozen times by this point, but I really don't think it's anything all too special..unless you're in the market for gold jewelry. I don't think I've ever seen it NOT bustling with hoards of tourists. It's great to snap a photo on and next to, but I'd say move on after that. read more
This landmark on the Arno river is a fun, free sight. From the river side, the bridge contains many buildings lining both sides of the bridge and has a very 'old world' feel. While on the bridge, you will pass jewelry store, after jewelry store. Some include antique pieces. This is a pedestrian only bridge. Halfway along the bridge you will find an open area where vendors show their wares and you can take photos. There is also a tower here and a plaque with a brief description of the bridge on the tower wall. It was our first stop while visiting Florence and a nice introduction to the city. read more
This is the place to take a knock out picture at sunset with your travel companions or even by yourself. Window-shopping is a must; there are beautiful jewels in the shops along this historic bridge (the "old" bridge according to its name). Even on a rainy day you should take pictures, the scenery is splendid. This is part of the normal route for many Florentines strolling from the Centro Storico to the Oltrarno (south of the River Arno). If you plan ahead, you might be able to arrange a visit through the Vasari Corridor that is above the shops. I wish I could be standing on the Ponte Vecchio right now! It is a special place to be! read more
We didn't actually walk along the Ponte Vecchio, but we were able to see it from a distance, which per some of the more negative reviews, was a better choice. The crowded, touristy Ponte Vecchio would have ruined our experience and the awe that overcame us as we took it in silently. The architecture and rustic beauty can be seen from a couple blocks down on a prior bridge. We didn't dare venture through the tourist trap, but we got to admire the historical landmark from a distance, as well as get some great photos. Worth the walk, but not worth fighting the tourist attraction aspect. read more
Everyone who comes to Florence must cross this iconic bridge sooner or later. It is one of the most postcard-perfect bridges from any direction. This is the only bridge spared during 1944 bombings by retreating German forces. It is the home of some wonderful jewelry stores. Most tourists do not realize that it was once populated with butchers' and fishmongers' stores; but, Grand Duke Ferdinando I, who did not like the smell, decided that only jewelers could be on the bridge. Take a walk across the bridge and be dazzled by the jewels you will see. I can clearly remember the first time my Dad brought me here in 1962 as a young girl and how smitten I was just looking at all the jewels! read more
Ponte Vecchio is a wonderful place to take some breathtaking photos. The stone bridge is amazing. You get the Venice vibe in the middle of Florence. The river surrounded by buildings and bridges. There are a ton of small jewelry, art, and souvenir shops here. I was here on a sunny clear day and was able to get really nice pictures. read more
8 years ago
You can't go to Florence without spending some time shopping on the Ponte Vecchio. The many shops have interesting items but the most important are the leather goods. I guess they have to do something with the leather because so many people are eating all that steak!! read more
OLD BRIDGE! No really, that's what "Ponte Vecchio" literally means in English and the funny thing is that it's being called the old bridge even during the Renaissance. Now, the title is even more fitting because this is actually the only remaining bridge that wasn't destroyed in WWII. Yeah I bet that caught your attention! As iconic as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio is a symbol of Florentine resilience and ingenuity. Although it's lined with shops, you probably don't want to shop here because of the crowd and the prices. Sadly, it could also be a much more unpleasant river crossing than the nearby bridges because everyone and his or her moms want to cross this bridge. But my recommendation is to simply admire this bridge from faraway! The best viewpoints are immediately outside the archway under the Uffizi Gallery and the window facing the bridge on the 3rd floor in the Uffizi's turnabout. You don't need to squeeze with the crowd to cross the bridge, but no photo album of Florence travel is complete without snapping the beauty of this old bridge! --- tl;dr version: 1) Florence's only remaining old bridge - hence the name, old bridge! 2) Not a pleasant crossing because of the crowd so not a must-do experience 3) Definitely take a photo from near or in the Uffizi! read more
I won't deny that I'm a romantic. Ponte Vecchio offers everything anyone holding such a similar sentiment would adore. A picturesque river runs under an old bridge with the most beautiful Tuscan buildings you could imagine running alongside them... It's straight out of an idealized vision of Italy. After squeezing through the Piazzale degli Uffizi, this expansive view is more than welcome, and one can hardly believe it's real. The best part? It is. read more
Such an incredibly beautiful and worthwhile landmark to visit, and impossible to miss when visiting Firenze. Full of character and rich history (quite literally-Medicis and gold); Ponte Vecchio is in fact the original "Love Lock" bridge. It is here, where lovers used to attach a lock to the construction and throw the key into the Arno to symbolize eternal love. Since the city started giving out penalties for attaching locks, as it is damaging to the bridge (which has been standing since Ancient Roman times); Pont Neuf in Paris has since become more popular for Romeo and Juliets hailing from across the globe. There is abundance of small jewelry shops scattered along the bridge (which isn't very long). During the Medieval and Renaissance ages, when the Medici ruled the city; these jewelry shops were actually butcher shops. The shops protrude from the bridge and lay over the Arno River, just atop the arched stone. To ensure safe, weather proof travel between Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, the Medicis actually had a corridor built (Vasari Corridor). The Grand Dukes wanted this corridor to be a prominent passageway; and as a result, they disallowed butcher shops. Taking the place of the meatheads were the.......gold merchants. And there you have the 500 year old roots of the jewelry shops on Ponte Vecchio! Half way between the bridge, there is an opening that is not consumed by jewelry shops (on both sides); and you can look out onto the water. There are frequently artists singing and playing instruments, as well as people selling souvenirs and gypsies (hopefully not trying to pick-pocket you). It can get quite crowded on the bridge during the day. read more
The Ponte Vecchio (literally, the "Old Bridge") was originally constructed in medieval times. It is constructed of stone in what is referred to as "closed-spandrel" segmental arch bridge fashion, and spans over the Arno River in Florence. It is located within easy waking distance of many of the other most well known attractions of Florence. It is close to the Duomo (Dome) of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, the Palazzo Vecchio, the Pitti Palace, and the Boboli Gardens. For its history, and the romance of a stroll across this fascinating structure, the Ponte Vecchio would receive 5 stars. However, I am downgrading my ranking to 4 stars simply because in its current state it has become rather touristy with jewelry and trinket shops, as well as many aggressive street vendors. While this doesn't spoil the experience, it does hit you like a slap in the face with commercialism. It is however possible to overcome the tourist traps by "looking past them" to obtain an appreciation of the Roman and Medieval charm. It truly is a very cool destination. The first historical record of the bridge is from a document dated 996. It is known that, after being destroyed by a flood in 1117 it was reconstructed in stone. However, it was swept away again in 1333 except for two of its central piers, then was rebuilt in 1345. During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by Germans during their retreat in August 1944, unlike all other bridges in Florence !! read more
7 years ago
Real beautiful place. Although it's kind of crowded with alot of tourists. Super romantic nice view! read more
12 years ago
OK, it is one of the most famous historical site of Firenze. According to legend, Hitler specifically ordered to avoid this site during the bombing in WWII. Turns out, it is just a stone bridge. The interesting thing is the gold and jewelry stores on the bridge. Almost every store opened their front door, with a staff standing in the middle of the entrance. As the door is blocked, I did not see any tourist entering the shops. P.S. The refrigerator door magnetic sticker is way over priced here, 7-10 euros. Buy it somewhere else. read more
10 years ago
from our trip in 2009... we were suppose to meet our Wine Tasting/Bike Tour group here. unfortunately, we decided to rent a car and drive from our little villa in Chianti here. needless to say, we finally found this place AFTER the tour group left. oh, we decided AGAINST the GPS and we also got a ticket for going the wrong way down one of the one way streets. oh well. the Ponte Vecchio is a very touristy spot. it's a short bridge covering the Arno, located in the heart of Florence. its' just down the street from the other touristy spots, the Duomo, the Piazza, the Palazzo etc. there are plenty of shop on this bridge selling mostly crap. excuse, i meant La Crapo! david statues, replica paintings, mugs, key chains and I "heart" Florence t-shirts. the place is not even really usefull as a marker, as we thought it would be. granted it was the most "structured" bridge, plenty of buildings from the shops, the other bridges were relatively similar. in any case, take your picture, and move along. oh yeah, and watch where you park! read more
7 years ago
To me this is just another over-rated tourist trap. I don't believe it had any cultures significance other than its an old quaint bridge. It is packed with people (tourists) checking out shops lining the bridge selling souvenirs. I was very alert walking across the bridge knowing that it's fertile ground for pick pockets. read more
7 years ago
5 years ago
My favorite bridge in the world!!! I've never bought anything on this bridge, but to walk by shop after shop of shining gold and gems as you cross the Arno river in this majestic city is truly a treat. Love walking across it in the middle of the day when all the shops are open, there are the most tourists, and you can barely move. Love walking across at night as everything is winding down and stopping in the middle to watch the sunset...usually some live music then as well by local musicians just setting up and playing. Love running across it in the early morning when nobody is there, the storefronts are all blocked up, and the only other things on the road are the street sweepers. Try riding a bike across it at lunch time...intense! Take a moment to read about its history and you will appreciate it even more. Also, be sure to note of the Vasari Corridor. Lucky to have spent so much time on this bridge...many great memories! read more
10 years ago
Very historic and one of the main attractions in Firenze. It's only got jewelry stores on the bridge that have been protected by law since... Forever. It's beautiful but there's isn't much to see if you're not in the market for jewelry. From April to October is the tourists season so if your expecting to get good photos avoid those months. There's plenty of Florence to see, the bridge isn't worth it if it means missing out on the rest. read more
It's an amazing bridge... you ask why. Firstly its very beautiful. Secondly, its huge there are shops on both sides of the bridge. Don't get lost or lose some one and put you walking shows on as well as it is going to be crowded. Lots of shops on the bridge but all seemed expensive when I looked at their pricing. Many shows were Gold/ Jewellery shops. There are also a lot of people selling stuff on the street and especially one guy was selling these awesome water color paintings. Not much cafes or restaurant on the bridge so you will have to come down on either side to eat. For a good picture of the bridge make sure you are around sunset and away from the bridge to capture it all. read more
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Ponte Vecchio - localflavor - Updated May 2026
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