The Rialto Bridge (Italian: Ponte di Rialto) is the oldest of the four bridges in Venice (Veneto, Italy) that cross the Grand Canal and probably the most famous in the city.

The first construction to cross the Grand Canal was a pontoon or floating bridge, built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. It was called Ponte della Moneta, presumably after the mint that minted the Venetian currency and stood at its eastern entrance.

The evolution and importance of the Rialto Market on the eastern bank of the canal increased river traffic considerably near the floating bridge. Therefore, it was replaced around 1250 by a wooden bridge. The structure had two inclined ramps that joined a movable central section, which could be raised for the passage of tall ships. The bridge's relationship with the market finally produced the name change. During the first half of the century, two rows of shops were built on the sides of the bridge. Taxes from these stores were paid into the city Treasury, which helped maintain the bridge.

Such maintenance was vital in a wooden bridge of this type. The Rialto Bridge was partially burned during the revolt led by Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310. In 1444, it collapsed under the weight of the crowd that gathered to watch a nautical parade, and was not rebuilt again until 1524, when it collapsed again.

The idea of ​​a reconstruction in stone was first proposed in 1503. Different projects followed one another in the following decades. In 1551, the Venetian authorities asked for proposals to renovate the Rialto Bridge. Numerous famous architects, such as Michelangelo, Jacopo Sansovino, Andrea Palladio and Jacopo Vignola offered, but all made proposals from a classical approach with different arches, which were judged inappropriate for this work.

The current stone bridge is made up of a single arch, designed by Antonio da Ponte, and built between 1588 and 1591, based on the design of the previous wooden bridge: two inclined ramps intersect in a central portico. On each side of the ramps there is a row of cubicles topped with semicircular arches, which serve as shops. It is supported by 600 wooden piles, with the construction arranged in such a way that at all times the joints of the voussoirs are perpendicular to the thrust of the arch.

The engineering design was considered so bold at the time that architect Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted its sinking. However, the Rialto Bridge still stands today, being one of the architectural icons of the city of Venice.