The Ponte Vecchio is the Florence bridge that survived World War II and is lined with shops over the Arno River.
The present stone bridge was completed in 1345 after earlier crossings at the site were destroyed by floods. It is famous for its dense rows of shops, which historically included butchers and later became associated with jewelers, art dealers and souvenir businesses. A covered passage, the Vasari Corridor, runs above the shops and once allowed members of the Medici family to travel between the Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti.
German forces destroyed other bridges in Florence during their 1944 retreat, but the Ponte Vecchio was spared. The surrounding approaches were damaged, and access was obstructed with rubble. Its name simply means “Old Bridge” in Italian. The bridge is therefore both a historic transport crossing and one of Florence’s best-known commercial and architectural landmarks.