Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") is a medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy. It is known for the shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers, tanners, and farmers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir sellers.

To enhance the prestige and clean up the bridge, a decree was made in 1595 that excluded butchers from this bridge (only goldsmiths and jewelers are allowed) that is in effect to this day. The association of butchers had monopolized the shops on the bridge since 1442.

In order to connect the Palazzo Vecchio (Florence's town hall) with the Palazzo Pitti, in 1565 Cosimo I de' Medici had Giorgio Vasari build the Vasari Corridor, part of which runs above the Ponte Vecchio.

The back shops (retrobotteghe) that may be seen from upriver were added in the seventeenth century.

Read more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio


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