9 things you didn’t know about bridges in Venice, Italy

When people think about Venice, bridges are some of the first things that come to mind.

That’s why a short and fun article about bridges in Venice is a must, don’t you think?

Just like streets and canals, also Venetian bridges have names.

However, some of these names are very strange.

Here are the most bizarre ones:

The “Ponte delle Tette”, literally “Bridge of the Tits” offered indeed the view that the name suggests.

During the XV century, the number of prostitutes in Venice was so high that it had become a social issue, for they were offering their services everywhere in the city at any time.

The Serenissima decided, therefore, to move them to a specific area in Venice where the Republic had inherited houses from the wealthy Rampani family.

From the windows of these houses facing an alley, a canal, and the said bridge, the prostitutes were allowed to expose their bodies to passing people.

Because of this reason, the bridge and the canal names were officially changed into Ponte e Rio delle Tette.

There are two “Ponte dei Pugni” literally “Bridge of the Fists” in Venice and they still can be recognized by marble footprints on the 4 corners on top of them. What is their origin though?

At the end of the XVI century, and for over 100 years, from September to December, two factions in Venice would choose a date and meet to have fights on top of a bridge; the groups, each with up to 300 fighters, would gather on opposite sides while the music played and the crowds of spectators gathered to assist to the show.

First, the respective champions would step on the bridge, position themselves on the corners and start fighting; soon after the beginning of the fights, more and more contenders would join in and take part in it.

These fights could last many hours, therefore at night, the police were sent to put an end to the show.

During those fights, people used sticks and other tools for fighting, and on some occasions, even knives.

In order to stop such violence, in 1705, the Serenissima passed a law for which whoever was caught fighting had to serve 5 years on a warship or 7 years in prison.

The name “Ponte degli Scalzi” literally means the Bridge of those who walk barefoot.

It was built in the 1850s, and it is one of the only 4 bridges in Venice that cross the Grand Canal.

This bridge creates a link between the districts of Santa Croce and Cannaregio.

Its initial design was an iron structure inspired by the Accademia bridge, which later got replaced by a stone bridge in the 1930s due to its overly ‘modern’ look.

Located in Torcello, the Ponte del Diavolo, or Devil’s Bridge, is one of the only two bridges in Venice characterized by the absence of parapets.

Torcello’s Ponte del Diavolo is said to have materialized in a single night. Moreover, its central arch is supported by a massive rock believed to have been hurled into the canal by the devil himself.

Firstly built in the 15th century, the Ponte del Diavolo underwent reconstruction after World War I.