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A private walk to understand the city, not to rush through it: sestieri, calli, vaporetto and local tastes, with a personalized map.
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Visitor guide · San Polo & San Marco
Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market: a visitor's guide
The story of the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, built by Antonio da Ponte in 1588–1591, and of the market that has fed the city for centuries, with tips on when to go and how to see it with a licensed guide.
- Licensed guide no. 05000058
- Guiding since 2008
- Private tours only
- EN · IT · FR
In short
What is the Rialto Bridge and when should you visit the Rialto Market?
The Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) is the oldest of the bridges over the Grand Canal: the stone arch you cross today was designed by Antonio da Ponte and built in 1588–1591. Beside it, the Rialto Market is a working food market: according to the City of Venice, the fish market opens in the morning from Tuesday to Saturday, while the fruit and vegetable stalls also trade on Mondays. Both are free to visit. Licensed guide Daniela Zarpellon includes Rialto in her private orientation, literary and Grand Canal tours; ask for a free quote, with a reply within 24 hours.
A short history of the Rialto Bridge
Rialto was the commercial heart of Venice: the place of bankers, merchants, spices and news. For centuries the bridge here was also the only fixed crossing of the Grand Canal.
The first crossing was a bridge of boats, built in 1181 by Nicolò Barattieri. A wooden bridge followed in 1255, with a central section that could be raised to let tall ships pass and shops whose rents helped pay for its upkeep. It was partly burned during the revolt of Bajamonte Tiepolo in 1310 and collapsed under the weight of crowds in 1444, and again in 1524.
A stone bridge was discussed for decades. In 1551 architects including Jacopo Sansovino, Andrea Palladio and Vignola submitted designs, but their multi-arched solutions were judged unsuitable. The commission finally went to Antonio da Ponte, whose single stone arch, with two rows of shops under a central portico, was built in 1588–1591. Vincenzo Scamozzi predicted that it would fall; it is still standing. Da Ponte's nephew, Antonio Contin, would later design the Bridge of Sighs.
On and around the bridge
What to see at Rialto
The view from the top
From the balustrades you look down the Grand Canal in both directions, with palaces, gondolas and boats in constant movement. Early morning and evening are the calmest moments to stop.
The three walkways
The bridge has a central passage between the shops and two outer walkways along the balustrades. The outer ones are where you pause for the view without blocking the flow.
Rialto in literature
Shakespeare's merchants ask "What news on the Rialto?" in The Merchant of Venice, and Robert Browning called it Shylock's bridge. It is a natural stop on our literary Venice tour.
The Grand Canal banks
The banks below the bridge still carry the names of trades, such as the Riva del Vin and the Riva del Ferro. Seen from the water, Rialto makes sense as a port; that is the view of our Grand Canal private boat tour.
The Rialto Market and the Pescheria
On the San Polo side of the bridge, Rialto has been the market district of Venice since the Middle Ages. Today it is still where Venetians buy fish, fruit and vegetables, and it is worth seeing as a working market rather than a sight.
The Pescheria (fish market)
The fish market trades under a neo-Gothic loggia completed in 1907, designed by the painter Cesare Laurenti with the architect Domenico Rupolo. Look at the stone capitals: they are carved with fish, crabs, lobsters and boats. Lagoon and Adriatic fish are laid out on ice in the morning, and the stalls close well before lunch is over.
The Erbaria (fruit and vegetable market)
Next to it, the fruit and vegetable stalls of the Erbaria bring produce from the lagoon islands and the mainland. Seasonal vegetables tell you what time of year it is better than any calendar.
When to go to the Rialto Market
According to the City of Venice, the fish market is open from Tuesday to Saturday in the morning and is closed on Sundays and Mondays; the fruit and vegetable market is open from Monday to Saturday. Go early: the market is at its liveliest in the first hours, before the bridge fills with visitors. Times can change, so we always check them when we prepare your tour.
Practical tips
Visiting Rialto without the crowds
Tips
- Cross the bridge early in the morning or in the evening; around midday it is one of the busiest points in Venice.
- Keep to the right on the steps and stop only along the balustrades.
- At the market, look but do not touch the produce, and keep clear of the stallholders' carts.
Good to know
- The bridge and the market are public spaces, free of charge.
- The bridge has steps on both sides: there is no step-free crossing at Rialto.
- The Rialto vaporetto stops serve both banks of the Grand Canal.
Gallery
A visual diary of Venice
How to see Rialto with a private guide
Rialto is easy to find and easy to misunderstand. A guide shows you why the bridge is where it is, how the market and the banks worked together, and how to move through the area on quieter routes.
Daniela Zarpellon, licensed tourist guide, guiding since 2008, brings guests to Rialto in her Understanding Venice private orientation tour, about 2.5–3 hours on the logic of the city, its sestieri and the vaporetto. It also features in the literary walk and, from the water, in the Grand Canal boat tour. Each tour is private, in English, Italian or French, and can be shortened or extended.
Shakespeare to Hemingway
Literary Venice
Shylock, Othello, Casanova, Byron, Henry James and Hemingway, read in the places they wrote about.
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Venice from the water
Grand Canal by private boat
Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque palaces seen as they were designed to be seen: from the water.
Discover the tourFAQ
Rialto: your questions
When was the Rialto Bridge built?
The stone bridge was designed by Antonio da Ponte and built in 1588–1591. It replaced a series of earlier crossings: a bridge of boats from 1181 and wooden bridges from 1255, one of which collapsed in 1444 and again in 1524.
What days is the Rialto fish market open?
According to the City of Venice, the fish market is open on Tuesday to Saturday mornings and closed on Sundays and Mondays. The fruit and vegetable market also opens on Mondays. Check before you go, as times can change.
Do you pay to cross the Rialto Bridge?
No. The bridge and the market are public spaces and free. On dates when the Venice access fee applies, day visitors must follow the City's rules for entering the historic center, explained in our Venice travel tips.
What time is the Rialto Bridge least crowded?
Early morning, when the market is trading, and late evening are the quietest moments. Around midday the bridge is busy with people crossing between San Marco and San Polo.
How much does a private tour including Rialto cost?
Every private tour is quoted individually because it is tailor-made. The quote depends on length, number of guests, language, season and any boat or third-party services. It is free and no-obligation, with a reply within 24 hours.
Keep exploring
More places to see in Venice
From Rialto it is a short walk to the Frari. See all the sights in our guide to what to see in Venice.
Titian's church
Frari Basilica
Visitor guide: Titian's Assumption and the great Franciscan church.
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Mosaics and gold
St Mark's Basilica
Visitor guide: history, mosaics, the Pala d'Oro and practical tips.
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Venetian painting
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Visitor guide: Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese.
Discover the placePrivate tour
Rialto, through a Venetian's eyes
Tell us when you arrive and what you enjoy, and we will design the walk around it. Tailor-made, quote on request. Free, no-obligation quote – reply within 24 hours.
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