The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and the most popular of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice.
Built on the site of an old pontoon bridge, the Rialto Bridge owes its name to its proximity to the Rialto Markets; originally made of wood, the bridge has assumed its current shape at the end of the 16th century.
The entire route of the bridge is covered by a portico, below which there are several traditional boutiques. Over the years the Rialto Bridge has become a real symbol of Venice: as well as by land, it can also be admired from one of the typical boats that cross the Grand Canal.