Editing Rialto Bridge (section)

== History ==
The first dry crossing of the Grand Canal was a [[pontoon bridge]] built in 1181 by [[Nicolò Barattieri]]. It was called the Ponte della Moneta, presumably because of the mint that stood near its eastern entrance.<ref name="molmenti">{{cite book | last = Molmenti| first = Pompeo|author2=Horatio Forbes Brown|title = Venice: Its Individual Growth from the Earliest Beginnings to the Fall of the Republic| via = [[Internet Archive]]| url = https://archive.org/details/veniceitsindivi06molmgoog| access-date = 5 September 2008| date = 13 October 1906| publisher = A.C. McClurg & Co.| location = Chicago| page = 29}}</ref>

The development and importance of the [[Rialto]] market on the eastern bank increased traffic on the floating bridge, so it was replaced in 1255 by a wooden bridge.<ref name="molmenti"/> This structure had two ramps meeting at a movable central section, that could be raised to allow the passage of tall ships. The connection with the market eventually led to a change of name for the bridge. During the first half of the 15th century, two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge. The rents brought an income to the State Treasury, which helped maintain the bridge.

Maintenance was vital for the timber bridge. It was partly burnt in the [[Tiepolo conspiracy|revolt]] led by [[Bajamonte Tiepolo]] in 1310. In 1444, it collapsed under the weight of a crowd rushing to see the marriage of the [[Leonello d'Este|Marquis of Ferrara]]<ref name="dupre"/> and it collapsed again in 1524.

The idea of rebuilding the bridge in [[rock (geology)|stone]] was first proposed in 1503. Several projects were considered over the following decades. In 1551, the authorities requested proposals for the renewal of the Rialto Bridge, among other things. Plans were offered by famous architects, such as [[Jacopo Sansovino]], [[Palladio]] and [[Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola|Vignola]], but all involved a [[classical architecture|Classical]] approach with several arches, which was judged inappropriate to the situation. [[Michelangelo]] also was considered as designer of the bridge.<ref name="dupre"/>