Walk the Accademia Bridge for Best Views of Venice
You get the best views of Venice from Accademia Bridge. This is another unique bridge of Venice at the lower crossing of Grand Canal.
Our destination was Santa Maria della Salute, we didn’t actually have to cross it, but being in Venice and not having walked the Accademia bridge for best views of Venice would be a shame. So we walked over the bridge, soaked in the lovely views from there.
Accademia Bridge of Venice is, a wooden structure, an open foot bridge.
Accademia Bridge made of wood and steel
Accademia Bridge (Ponte dell’Accademia) Location
Ponte dell’Accademia, the local name for Accademia Bridge, is located at lower, southern end of Grand Canal. This wooden bridge links the San Marco district with the Accademia art gallery in Dorsoduro.
Standing on the bridge, looking towards either direction, I found it hard to decide which view was better. On one side the dome of Santa Maria della Salute was visible, and on the other is the view towards the Rialto Bridge.
Ponte dell’Accademia
Accademia Bridge Construction
Accademia Bridge was constructed in 1854 with a steel structure. This structure was first made with wood, later reinforced with steel. The steel reinforcements are prominently visible.
The original Accademia Bridge, a steel bridge was built in 1854, it was designed by English architect A.E. Neville. Later it was replaced by a temporary wooden bridge in 1932.
In 1985, the crumbling Mussolini-era bridge was replaced by a new wooden replica of the 1932 structure. The steel reinforcements were added to strengthen the structure. It was built in a record period of 37 days then.
Due to corrosive effects of salty air of lagoon the bridge deteriorated. Add to those negative effects the load of love locks on the metal rails! Traffic of approximately 8 million people each year over the bridge too contributed to speedy deterioration.
The bridge we all see today was built, as an identical construction, in 1985.
Views from Accademia Bridge
This is the view of the Dorsoduro side of the bridge, you can see the Accademia vaporetto, the first stop after San Marco’s. View of Santa Maria della Salute, the canal feeds into St. Mark’s Basin here.
Getting to this bridge is easy, you will find plenty of signs with arrows indicating Accademia, it is ten minutes from Rialto Bridge.
View from the elegant wooden bridge in Venice
Tip for Best Views of Venice from Accademia Bridge
Reach just prior to sunset. The sight of San Marco Basin and the Salute Basilica is spectacular. The monuments get a magical glow illuminated by the pink sunset.
Trivia: Greg Wise proposed to Emma Thompson on the Accademia Bridge.
Read more: Europe has several wooden bridges still standing strong from medieval times. In Lucerne, Switzerland I walked across two wooden bridges. Read the here: Spreuer Bridge and Kapellbrucke Bridge.
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Brings back memories – I love Venice and would love to visit again.
Wonderful perspectives of the Accademia Bridge! It sems you like Venice as much as I do! 🙂
Beautiful!! Did you see Glass blowers in Venice. Are they still there.
Beautiful!! Did you see Glass blowers in Venice. Are they still there.
Wow! The bridge is beautiful and the views from it are awesome!!
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SueAnn
I like this interesting bridge.
The last photo is very beautiful and evocative.
beautiful images and wonderful history!
thank you for sharing!
Such romance in this city with all those bridges. How many did you see?
I love this bridge, I love Venise!
Elisa
This bridge looks lacy to me – lace made of wood.
What a fabulous bridge, and i love your photo's, thank you for sharing this!
It is so nice that they have preserved the old. We also have ( or should I say had) a 'lakdi ka pul' – we are all told that it was a wooden bridge, but now it is an ugly concrete structure!
That is a very cool bridge. Love the wooden structure! And the view is fantastic, too 😀
Another beautiful bridge… the one thing I really admire about all these places is how they have maintained these age-old structures… its high time we learn something from them! Its a pity to see beautiful old temples covered with tiles and concrete in the name of 'beautification'!
The wood certainly adds character to this bridge.
loved the structure, Venice is truly enchanting.
I wish I could visit Venice and cross Academia Bridge… lovely place too!
ah, Venice! the bridge is simply romantic and the view is breath-taking. marvelous shots.
I love this bridge.
I love, love & love Venise
Greetings
Elisa, Argentina
Lovely pictures. The account of the bridge shows how such structures are painstakingly preserved abroad.
«Louis» appreciates the fact that you took the time and trouble to give us the history of this fascinating bridge. You answered all of his questions!
«Louis» thanks you for your contributions to the Sunday Bridges series.
Good to see that the wodden structure still stands.
That's a fascinating structure with an interesting history. Of course the location is stupendous.
Walking across this bridge is like a dream. So is the museum on the other side of the bridge.