Straw bridge

Ponte del Paglia – Straw Bridge – is one of the oldest bridges in Venice. The date of its construction is considered to be 1360. Despite its name, it is not made of straw, but of strong Istrian stone.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of this bridge. The most reliable is the following: near this place barges moored with straw, which in a mixture with clay was widely used by the poor as a material for roofs. In addition, there were stables nearby, where straw was also needed. Historical documents and decrees were found in the archives, banning the unloading of straw bales here due to frequent fires. Anyway, but the historical name has survived to this day.

In the Middle Ages there were sentry boxes on both sides of the bridge. They checked everyone who passed on the bridge, and also controlled the trade and payment of taxes to the city treasury.

Straw bridge is an attractive observation deck for tourists. From here there is an excellent view of the gloomy Palace Canal and its main attraction - the Bridge of Sighs. And on the other hand, you will see a magnificent picture of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, standing on the opposite bank of the Grand Canal.