Bridge at the Marina Veneta, Footbridge in the Castello district, Venice, Italy
The Pont à la Marina Veneta, also known as Ponte de le Cadene, is a stone bridge crossing the Rio de la Tana in the Castello district of Venice. It is built from brick and stone, features a stone band along the top and a marble lion figure set into the archway.
The bridge was originally built from wood and could open in the middle to let boats from the nearby Arsenal pass through. In 1720 it collapsed, killing four people, and was rebuilt in 1871 in the solid brick and stone form still standing today.
The name "Pont à la Marina Veneta" comes from a nearby café whose sign gave the crossing its most common name. The bridge is also known as "de le Cadene," a reference to the chains that once supported it on both sides.
The bridge sits away from the main tourist routes in the quieter part of the Castello district and is best reached on foot. The steps have been worn smooth over years of use and can be slippery when wet, so sturdy footwear is a good idea.
Although the bridge today looks solid and fixed, its wooden predecessor could open in the middle to let larger boats from the Arsenal pass through the canal. A late 17th-century written source confirms that chains held the structure in place, which is how it earned its second name.
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