Built
in 1345, the Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge
in Florence and spans the River Arno. This three-arched
bridge was the only one in the city to survive
the bombings in World War II, and is lined with
shops, mainly gold and silversmiths, making this
a popular shopping area. Some of the shops have
workshops at the back which literally overhang
the river and are supported by large wooden rests.
There is a secret passageway high above the shops,
the Corrodoio Vasariano, that links the Uffizi
Gallery to the Pitti Palace, that was originally
built so that the wealthy Medici family could
walk into town in private. It has recently been
reopened to the public and is now lined with portraits
of some of the city's greatest artists. |
