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Ponte di Rialto

25/6/2019

 
Walking Tours of Venice
Ponte di Rialto, Venice
Ponte di Rialto

The Ponte di Rialto was built between 1588 and 1591 by the aptly-named Antonio da Ponte (1512-97).
​
One side of the bridge is decorated with images of the Archangel Gabriel, the dove of the Holy Spirit, and the Virgin Mary, all the work of Agostino Rubini. The dove is carved into the keystone of the bridge and is, more often than not, hidden behind advertising banners.

The story of the Annunciation refers to the legend that the city of Venice was founded on March 25th (Feast of the Annunciation) in the year 421.


The large plaques behind Gabriel and Mary are inscribed with the names of the three Provveditori alla fabbrica del Ponte di Rialto: Alvise Zorzi, Marcantonio Barbaro and Giacomo Foscarini. Both plaques are surmounted by the coat of arms of Doge Pasquale Cicogna (r. 1585-95).
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The other side of the bridge sports the figures of two of Venice's patron saints, Mark and Theodore, the work of Tiziano Aspetti.  

Archangel Gabriel by Agostino Rubini, Ponte di Rialto, Venice
Archangel Gabriel
Virgin of the Annunciation by Agostino Rubini, Ponte di Rialto, Venice
Virgin of the Annunciation
San Teodoro by Tiziano Aspetti, Ponte di Rialto, Venice
San Teodoro
San Marco by Tiziano Aspetti, Ponte di Rialto, Venice
San Marco

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    Blogging about Venice:
    ​its art, history & culture. 

    My name is David Lown and I am an art historian from Cambridge, England.

    Since 200I I have been living in Italy, where I run
    ​ private tours of Florence, Rome &
    Venice.

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  • Private Tours
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