Three Arch Bridge

Rio de Cannareggio, a canal connecting the lagoon and the Grand Canal, is crossed by just two bridges: the Guglier Bridge (Spire Bridge) and the superb Three Arch Bridge. The latter is the only structure of this type that has survived in Venice to the present day.

The history of the bridge, as is often the case, began with a simple wooden structure that connected the two banks. In 1533, the fallen tree was replaced with stone, but even then it was only a utilitarian structure, devoid of any outstanding architectural features.

The bridge we see today was built in 1688 by Andrea Tiralli. Its unusual design with three arches of different sizes was borrowed by the architect from the sketches of the famous painter and Renaissance graphic artist Jacopo de Barbari. Initially, the bridge bore the name of St. Job, because of its location next to the cathedral of the same name.

Three bridge spans rise above the canal: in the center - high, on the sides - two smaller. They divide the water surface into three parts, so that only small boats can pass under the bridge. Historians have speculated that the Three Arch Bridge was designed to make it difficult for large enemy ships to reach the city via the Cannaregio Canal. However, a more plausible version is that the choice was dictated by simple mathematical calculations that allowed to create a durable structure, while maintaining the elegance of its lines.