Rialto Bridge, Venice

I visited this historic bridge in Venice, way back in 1970. My dear friend Ingrid Erns painted this image of the bridge in the mid 70s and it is a painting I truly treasure.

Better in LARGE.

The Piazza San Marco may be more famous, but the Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) is the true heart of Venice. The current structure was built in just three years, between 1588 and 1591, as a permanent replacement for the boat bridge and three wooden bridges that had spanned the Grand Canal at various times since the 12th Century.

The Rialto Bridge's 7.5-meter (24-foot) arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later.

The architect, Antonio da Ponte ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough), competed against such eminent designers as Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract.

Here is the link to another Ingrid Erns painting from Venice.

Please check out Mishka's journal today as it is her 100 blip birthday.