Italy - Florence - Ponte Vecchio tourists and shops

Shoppers browse the many jewellers shop displays on Florence's Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") is a Medieval bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. It has been described as Europe's oldest wholly-stone, closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge. To enforce the prestige of the bridge, in 1593 the Medici Grand Dukes prohibited butchers from selling there; their place was immediately taken by several gold merchants.

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Copyright: Richard Baker
Image Size: 3072x2047 / 689.4KB; www.bakerpictures.com; ponte vecchio bridge eu europe italian italy tuscany florence ageing old medieval historic past bygone era shopping shops jewellers crowds retail shoppers tourists transport visitor vacation holiday tour travel tourist tourism spending street
Contained in galleries: Richard Baker - All pics

Shoppers browse the many jewellers shop displays on Florence's Ponte Vecchio. The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") is a Medieval bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers. It has been described as Europe's oldest wholly-stone, closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge. To enforce the prestige of the bridge, in 1593 the Medici Grand Dukes prohibited butchers from selling there; their place was immediately taken by several gold merchants.