Academy Bridge

The bridge was opened to pedestrians on 19 February 1933 as a temporary structure. But, as you know, there is nothing more permanent than temporary - for 80 years it connects the district of San Marco and the gallery of the Academy of Arts.

For the first time about the need for the construction of the bridge began in 1488, but it took almost four hundred years before words began to work. There was a long debate about where to connect the coast, how to connect the bridge or tunnel, until in 1852 they accepted the proposal of the engineer Alfred Neville, given his extensive experience in this field. Two years later, there was a bridge with one horizontal metal span length of 50 meters, the only one of its kind in Italy. Despite the obvious comforts that the new bridge brought to the citizens, it caused a mixed reaction. Its designs, reminiscent of industrial ones, did not fit into the historical appearance of the district. In the end, it was decided to replace it with stone. On the eve of new construction, the Neville Bridge was dismantled, and in its place a wooden one was erected in just 37 days. Now the bridge of the Academy has turned into a light arched structure with a length of 48 meters.

On both sides of the bridge, steps lead to its central horizontal platform. Metal handrails are hung with locks - lovers all over the world try to symbolically fasten their feelings. The authorities of Venice are struggling with this tradition, but locks appear again and again. Climbing to the highest point of the bridge, do not forget to turn 360 degrees around you – in your field of view will get a lot of attractions.