The Rialto Bridge, once the only bridge over the Grand Canal, stands where Rivus Altus, the island’s first population, once stood (high bank). This stone arch, which was constructed in 1588, around 150 years after the collapse of a prior wooden bridge, spans two busy streets and a double row of stores.
It serves as a bustling crossing point halfway along the canal and is a popular spot for tourists to take photos, pose for pictures, and watch the boats constantly passing underneath it.
German traders who resided and worked in the Fondaco dei Tedeschi (German Commodity Exchange), located next to the canal, went to worship at the San Bartolomeo church, which is not far from the San Marco end of the bridge. The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew, a fine altarpiece by Palma the Younger, is present. The former exchange is now a well-liked destination for retail therapy.
Venetians and chefs browse for fresh produce and seafood at the bustling food market on the other side of Rialto Bridge. One of the most excellent places to shop in Venice is the San Polo neighborhood’s winding lanes, which are beyond the market and home to artisan shops and mask-making studios. Additionally, there are dining establishments that are less crowded with tourists than those close to San Marco.
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