The Bridge of Carraia (Ponte alla Carraia) is one of the historical bridges over the Arno River in Florence.
The alla Carraia Bridge is one of the three "main" and popular bridges in the center of Florence. The other two are the Vecchio Bridge (Old Bridge, Ponte Vecchio) and the Santa Trinita Bridge (Holy Trinity, Ponte Santa Trinita)
The Carraia Bridge is located in the western part of the historic center of Florence.
The Carraia Bridge was built second after the Vecchio Bridge, and was originally called the New Bridge (Ponte Nuovo, Ponte Nuovo).
The first mention of a wooden bridge at this place dates back to 1218. This bridge was destroyed by the flood of 1274. Soon it was rebuilt, but already in 1304 it buckled due to the weight of people who gathered on the bridge to watch a performance on the river.
After the destruction of the bridges in the catastrophic great flood of 1333, it was the first of the bridges that was rebuilt according to the project of the Italian architect Giotto.
Damaged again in 1557, the bridge was rebuilt by order of Cosimo I de' Medici, who entrusted the work to the Italian sculptor and architect Ammannati, who at that time was already working on the nearby Santa Trinita Bridge.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the bridge was widened to facilitate the passage of wagons and carriages.
Later, the bridge was mined, like all Florentine bridges, during World War II and blown up in 1944 by retreating fascists to prevent the passage of Allied troops. In 1948, the bridge was rebuilt again by architect Ettore Faggiuoli, while retaining its ancient five-arch structure without architectural decorations.
Today, the Carraia Bridge connects squares on both banks of the Arno River: Nazario Sauro Square (south) and Carlo Goldoni Square (north), where there is a monument to the Venetian playwright and librettist Carlo Goldoni.
The bridge is both carriageway and pedestrian. Pedestrian sidewalks run on both sides of the bridge.
Views from the Karraya Bridge
The Carraya Bridge is also popular because it offers good views of the Arno River with embankments and bright historical buildings.
The most famous and photographed view from the bridge is the view in the eastern direction, in which the next bridge of Florence is visible - the Santa Trinita Bridge with architectural decorations and large allegorical sculptures of the seasons.
In the western direction of the Arno River, the bridge of Amerigo Vespucci (Ponte Amerigo Vespucci) is visible from the Carraia Bridge.
Practical information
The Karraya Bridge is accessible to the public 24 hours a day.
Coordinates of the Carraya Bridge: 43°46'12.9"N 11°14'50.1"E (43.770242, 11.247247).
All accommodation facilities in Florence (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here
