When you see an aerial shot of the city of Florence, it is reminiscent of a superbly well organized jig saw puzzle with the wonderful river Arno flowing through it breaking the puzzle up in an elegant manner. The bridges that join each side of the city are really something that are quite spectacular and the views from these bridges have to be seen to be believed especially at certain times of the day.
The Ponte Vecchio bridge
The Ponte Vecchio bridge is not just a bridge, it is a monument that has to be admired from both close up and afar. The bridge has a world of its own along it, with jewellery shops that are famous the world over, tempting visitors and shoppers alike to browse in them in a setting that is out of this world.
This amazing structure was built in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi and Neri di Fioravanti. It was built to replace the Roman bridge which has suffered too much damage during the floods on the River Arno. In the evenings, at sunset is probably one of the best times to see the bridge from afar, just downstream in fact, as the lights come on along it as well as in the various shops and establishments that are situated on the bridge it gives a magical impression to the whole area that is exceptionally beautiful. The reflections of the arches in the rivers’ waters take on a mystical appearance that is enchanting to say the least. But then at sunrise, the Ponte Vecchio is a stunning place to see, as the suns’ first rays of the morning, light it up in a magical and mystical way.
Then there is the Ponte Alla Carraia, which dates back to medieval times. It has been rebuilt on several occasions especially after the Second World War when it was damaged by the Germans. It is a simple bridge but the views of it and from it, are amazing. When the weather is calm and the light is good, the reflections of the arches on the river are spectacularly clear. It does not matter which side of the river you happen to be on, the vistas of the city and the line of buildings that run along the river banks in such a stately manner, is an amazing vista. These vantage points offer the amateur photographer some great shots whether the photo is taken early in the morning, midday or on a balmy evening. From the bridge itself either looking upstream or downstream, the views of the river and the buildings are brilliant as everything looks so majestic.
Ponte Alla Carraia
There is no doubt that Florence is a photographers dream city, especially when it comes to its bridges that so elegantly cross from one side of the city to the other. Nobody visiting the city could possibly miss the photo opportunities they see when the approach them, are on them or as they see them in the distance from the banks of the river. When the sun is in just the right part of the sky, the reflections of the bridges on the water is simply mind blowing. Even the less ornate ones are just delightful and offer some of the best views of the city with its towers and tall buildings dominating the skyline.
The lovely low bridge of Ponte Alla Grazie is one of the bridges in Florence that gives the impression of an optical illusion both in the real and on photograph. This little bridge stood the tests of time and when you remember it was first constructed in 1227 then rebuilt in 1345, you can’t help but be impressed by this fact. It spans the widest part of the river Arno and when it was originally built it had buildings on it including a church hence its name, just as the Ponte Vecchio has today. However, the lovely ancient bridge was totally destroyed during the Second World War by the retreating German army and a new one was constructed to replace it. The modern bridge although a wonderful architectural feat, does not have the same charm as the old one, but the views of it and from it are still a wonder to behold.
Ponte Alla Grazie
When visiting Florence you cannot help but wander down to the river, the Ponte Vecchio attracts many tourists and lovers of architectural heritage to the area, but the magnificence of the buildings and the sheer size of them as they stretch as far as the eye can see along the rivers banks, makes it a lovely experience to just meander along these banks with camera at the ready. This is when you get the best impressions of the bridges in Florence and the vistas they offer you of the architecturally rich city of Florence.
From the more modern bridges to the ancient one like Ponte Vecchio, the River Arno in Florence is as majestic as the city itself. Even on a stormy day when the clouds hover over this ancient town, there are vistas that are simply out of this world. Capturing them on film is a wonderful way of keeping a memory fresh and alive of a beautiful city that over time has met the modern day with an ease that many cities have done been able to do. This is what makes Florence such a beautiful historic city to visit as it stands as a timeless monument to such a glorious past.
With so many beautiful sights to see whether from the ancient Ponte Vecchio or the modern bridges that have had to replace the old ones, Florence is a city that has to be discovered and then explored with a camera always at the ready to catch that perfect shot of a vista that can be seen nowhere else in the modern fast moving world. Florence is a magical, mystical city that is full of ancient history. Today like the bridge of Ponte Vecchio on the River Arnor, Florence stands as a monument to these times long past, it is a grand city which is a photographers dream because there is just so much to photograph when you visit this gorgeous Italian city.
