The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval closed-spandrel segmental stone arch bridge. The Bridge is located in Florence, Italy, across River Arno. It was first constructed in 996 by the Romans, but was rebuilt in 1333 and again in 1345.
Why it is special: The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge that is renowned for the shops lining the bridge along the way. It was a norm in the earlier days for merchants to sell their wares along bridges. While butchers occupied these shops at one point, jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers gradually used the space. An additional corridor was also constructed above the bridge so as to connect Florence’s town hall with the Palazzo Pitti.
