There are several famous bridges in the world but The Florence’s Old Bridge is by far the most ancient famous bridge of all! Not long in size this ancient Medieval bridge built in 1177 and currently holds the space for the best jewelry in the city. These gold merchants have been selling their merchandise on this bridge since the reign of Cosimo de Medici. It was the Medici himself who had brought about this change since earlier the bridge was occupied by butchers who sold fresh meat.
During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by Germans during their retreat of August 4, 1944, unlike all the other bridges in Florence, according to many locals and tour guides, because of an express order by Hitler. Since the Medici walked daily across this street from the Pitti Palace to the administrative offices in the Uffizi, was ordered this area to be replaced by gold merchants instead of smelly butchers.
A few steps away from Ponte Vecchio the Palace of the King: Welcome to Palazzo Pitti & Giardino di Boboli
Just as you walk down from Ponte Vecchio you’ll enter in Via Guicciardini one of the most crowded streets of Florence, the street will take you to Piazza Pitti in front of the Majesty of the Palace of the King: Palazzo Pitti. After the ownership of a rich Florence merchant the palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
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In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon, and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919, and its doors were opened to the public as one of Florence’s largest art galleries. Today, it houses several minor collections in addition to those of the Medici family, and is fully open to the public.
