Ponte delle Tette, Stone footbridge in Santa Croce district, Venice, Italy.
This footbridge made of brick and stone spans the Rio di San Canciano, linking the neighborhoods of Santa Croce and San Polo through a shallow arch. The structure follows the typical Venetian pattern with steps on both sides and a narrow passage for gondolas underneath.
The government decided in 1412 to control prostitution and assigned the Carampane di Rialto neighborhood as the zone for it. This bridge became the center of the area, where authorities in the 16th century even installed lanterns and paid women to remain visible here.
The name comes from the Renaissance period when women offered their services here after the Republic designated this district as a red-light area. Visitors today see a quiet bridge without visible traces of that era, only the name recalls the earlier functions of this spot.
The bridge sits away from the main routes between Rialto and the train station in a quiet area with little foot traffic. Visitors reach it easily from Campo San Cassiano through narrow alleys typical of this part of the city.
The Venetian authorities at times allowed only a limited number of women on the bridge and illuminated the spot at night with oil lamps to attract customers. Today nothing except the name recalls this state-organized practice, which was unusual in Europe.
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