Ponte della Paglia, Stone bridge near Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy.
The Ponte della Paglia is a stone bridge made of white Istrian stone that spans a Venetian canal, connecting the Doge's Palace to the adjacent prison building. It measures about 10 meters long and 7 meters wide, rising roughly 2.6 meters above water level.
The bridge was first built in 1360 as Venice's first stone bridge, but the current structure dates from 1847 when it was rebuilt to connect the Doge's Palace with the newly expanded prison complex. This 19th-century renovation reflected the city's need to improve connections between its main administrative and judicial buildings.
On one side of the bridge sits a white bas-relief of the Madonna of the Gondoliers, reflecting how boatmen showed devotion through religious images along their routes. This sculpture speaks to the spiritual connection local workers maintained with their maritime life.
The bridge provides a direct crossing between the San Marco district and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, making it easy to navigate on foot. The crossing is relatively short and flat with no significant obstacles or steep inclines.
The name comes from boats that once moored nearby to unload straw, making this spot a working marketplace for this common trade. This everyday activity shaped the bridge's name and reveals how practical commerce influenced Venice's geography.
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