Ponte dell'Accademia

ACCADEMIA BRIDGE

Ponte dell’Accademia is one of the few bridges crossing the Grand Canal, and it is the southernmost one. It connects two important areas of the city and takes its name from the nearby Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia.

It hasn’t always looked like it does today: the first bridge built there in the mid-19th century was made of iron, but it was not very popular because it looked too “industrial” and was inconvenient for boats.

In the 1930s, it was replaced with the current wooden bridge, which was originally meant to be temporary… but it ended up staying.

It was actually built very quickly (in just over a month), and for a time it was one of the largest wooden bridges in Europe.

Over the years, it has been restored several times, as wood is more vulnerable to wear, but its overall structure has remained largely the same.

Today, it is one of the best spots to enjoy a view over the Grand Canal from above and is extremely popular with both tourists and locals.