The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most photographed locations in Florence, and for good reasons!
- It’s beautiful during the day.
- It’s even more beautiful at night!
- It’s over 800 years old.
- Being over 800 years old, it holds great historical significance for Florentines, Italians, and the world collectively. (Because anything that’s lasted that long is historically significant!)
I did a bit of reading about Ponte Vecchio before we visited it with our Professoressa, but when she started telling us about the bridge, I whipped out my camera to record her stories. I love the way she shares Italian history with us. She brings it to life and you can really feel the heaviness of the historical place you are standing on. I’m excited to share this video with you!
You will learn a little about the age of the bridge, but more than typical facts and info you will learn how the bridge influenced Florence AND how the Medici family changed the bridge to suit their needs. Also, you’ll learn a bit about the importance of how one dresses in Florence, and why the city still places a huge emphasis on one’s external appearance. Fantastic stories – I hope you watch the whole thing!
If you want to do some more reading on Ponte Vecchio, here are a few of the resources I used when preparing for our visit:
- Six Things You Didn’t Know About the Ponte Vecchio by Chris Dobson (He wrote a book on it!)
- Facts and History of Ponte Vecchio by Bridges Database
- Traditional Gold and Silver on the Ponte Vecchio by Walks Inside Florence (tour company)
Sarah Pressler 
