Italy: Florence – Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio bridge connects the two sides of the city of Florence across the Arno River. The beautiful arches of the bridge span the river and the houses on both sides of it seemingly levitate in the air above the water below. The bridge was built on the order of Medici rulers as a road to connect Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. In the medieval times, the bridge was the home of goldsmiths who set up jewelry shops along it.