The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most emblematic symbols of Florence. Crossing it is like traveling back to the past, with its small jewelry stores and the sound of the Arno River below. I loved walking across the bridge at sunset, when the lights of the shops light up the streets and everything turns magical. It is a very special part of the city, and I recommend taking a moment to enjoy the views of the river and the architecture of the bridge. Although there are always people, it is worth the visit.

Famous and oft-photographed medieval stone bridge built in the 14th century that is has been lined with shops for centuries. The shops are now selling jewelry and souvenirs, and the bridge is often very crowded with tourists, but it is still an amazing sight. The views of the bridge down river are quite nice. I particularly enjoyed stopping by after dark when it wasn't as crowded, and street musicians were performing creating a nice atmosphere.

It's kind of like a tourist trap but with very little 'trappage' to worry about. There's some men on the bridge throwing blob-like toys onto a board of wood hoping adults looking at jewelry will buy them for some reason, but other than that its all jewelry. I was skeptical about them being fake or scams at first, but a bit of research told me that, well, they may be overpriced compared to places even nearby, but legit nonetheless (possibly with most shops owned by the same larger company). We ended up buying our wedding rings here, as we had been looking for at least 6 months and couldn't find anything in Japan or elsewhere that was in our hearts. So we just got some simple white gold bands here for the sake of having something from Italy, it sounds romantic that way. But I'm certain there are better deals elsewhere in Florence so take your time if you want to do the same. There are very few places in the world that have such a vast and unique array of legitimate jewelry in one place, so if you always feel short of options to find the unique item for you, this is the best place I can think of. But, as a tourist spot generally, it's just a bridge. Not particularly pretty or impressive. And you'll find yourself walking over it a few times if you're exploring florence for more than a day.

No visit to Florence is complete without seeing the Ponte Vecchio. My advice is visit early in the morning or late at night as it much less crowded. The best vantage points are from the Uffizi Gallery, Pizzale Michelangelo and other bridges along the river Arno.

Ponte Vecchio is not the only trade bridge in Europe. Trade was organized on most bridges in the Middle Ages, because you can’t walk past a bridge if you have to? The names of Parisian bridges speak about this; there is a famous bridge in Erfurt, no less beautiful, by the way, than the Ponte Vecchio. But the Old Bridge of Florence has become a brand, and for a long time. So much so that even the Nazis, during their retreat, left it as the only one not blown up. All bridges were blown up during the retreat, but this one was not! True, the entire block nearby was destroyed, so it was impossible to approach, much less drive through, it. Now the bridge is still a large store across the Arno. Only he does not sell meat as before, but jewelry. This has been the case since the time of the Medici, who, walking along the Vasari corridor from the Palazzo Vecchio to the new Pitti Palace, strongly disliked the stench of meat. Nowadays the only edible thing is ice cream. Come here for gold, jewelry, watches. Very few people buy it. most, like me, just watch. We didn't come for hours...

Ponte Vecchio is one of the symbols of Florence. The culmination of a beautiful walk in the historic center started by Santa Maria Novella and then continued towards Palazzo Pitti and the church of Santo Spirito. Old as it was the oldest Florentine bridge over the Arno. From Roman times it was rebuilt several times as it was destroyed by floods. The current version around 1340. Initially there were butcher shops then replaced with the current goldsmith shops from 1594 to avoid the stench that the old shops gave off. It was the only bridge that was not blown up by the Germans during the retreat in World War II, thanks to the intervention of the German consul Wolf to whom a plaque was dedicated on the bridge. The shops make the bridge characteristic, making it unique and a symbol of Florence. Today thousands of people cross the bridge every day. If you are in Florence you can not go.

I was very excited to visit the Ponte Vecchio, however, unfortunately left somewhat disappointed due to the crowds. Florence is totally overcrowded, even in winter. One cannot truly experience the Ponte Vecchio unless you go at the crack of dawn, which doesn't really help because the shops aren't open yet.

Beautiful at any time of day. History witness and, today, patient sufferer of hordes of disrespectful tourists. You will pass through it yes or yes on your visit to Florence. By day the bridge is full of shops (especially jewelry stores) and interesting performances in the central part. At night, shops close and traffic is more comfortable, pleasant and intimate.

Before the Romans, the Old Bridge was, until 1218, a common bridge over the River Arno in Florence. The present bridge was built after the flood of 1345. During World War II, it was the only one that the Germans did not destroy, but they closed the passage, destroying medieval buildings on both sides. And on November 4, 1966, the bridge survived when Arnault broke her banks. When the Medici moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they decided that they needed a passage connecting the Uffizi to Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the river, and this would allow them to avoid contact with their subjects. This resulted in the Corridoio Vasariano, designed by Vasari in 1565 on top of a line of houses along the eastern parapet. The shops have been on the bridge since the 13th century. At first they were very different: butchers and fish shops, and later leather. In 1593, Duke Ferdinand I of the Medici decreed that only gold and jewellery could be traded on the bridge.

Ponte Vecchio is one of the most iconic and enchanting landmarks in Florence. Walking across this historic bridge feels like stepping back in time. The charming medieval architecture, lined with quaint jewelry shops, creates a magical atmosphere that is truly unique.The views of the Arno River from the bridge are breathtaking, especially at sunset when the golden light reflects off the water. It’s a perfect spot for a romantic stroll or to simply soak in the beauty of the city.