Ponte di Calatrava Photo

Photographer’s Note

Venice at last has a fourth bridge across the Grand Canal. The new bridge, the Ponte di Calatrava, was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, whose past projects have included the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, and the precedent-setting "twisting torso" skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden.

In January, 2007, construction crews began driving piles for the new bridge in the Canale Grande between the Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia Railroad Station. The bridge's prefabricated sections were floated to the construction site by barge in August 2007, and the bridge opened to the public on September 11, 2008.

The new bridge is a long, sweeping curve of glass and steel that is designed to complement both the historic buildings on the Piazzale Roma side of the canal and the 1950s modernity of Venice's main railway station. Now that it's open, travelers won't have to go out of their way to cross the canal via the Ponte dei Scalzi or pay to ride the vaporetto as they've been forced to do in the past.

This shot was taken from Piazzale Roma looking down the Grand Canal towards Santa Lucia Railway Station.

Clementi, gracious, holmertz, PaulVDV, bobocortis, SteveH, siamesa, Atousa, fanni has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

barrufeto_77 (25945) 2008-12-01 0:02

Hi Santo.

Next time in Venezia I'll visit this new bridge...which everybody who has seen it tell me its horrible there....What do you think?

And did you like Venezia?

Rgs, OScar

Clementi (45339) 2008-12-01 0:30

Ciao Santo,
molto ben ripreso il ponte, mi piace la scelta hai preferito il lato opposto al mio , bella la prospettiva di questo ponte e la citta' sullo sfondo.
complimenti un ottimo lavoro
Giorgio

kschanna (6) 2008-12-01 1:58

Ciao Santo

But what about the Vaporettos?...the cynic inside me ;)

Its a fine composition. The bridge provides a nice element to split the people in two!

Colors and sharpness is great.

Thanks for sharing

Kamran

gracious (20017) 2008-12-01 10:08

Ciao Santo,
Compliment for this fine and quality image of architecture!
the pov is awesome with a good view of the new bridge and a good view over the city across the bridge!
the image is sharp with good lighting and superb details
thanks for the great notes as well
you take good care and sincere regards across the Tasman!
Tony

holmertz (10029) 2008-12-01 10:51

Hello Santo,
This is a very interesting picture, superbly composed with one half showing the modern bridge, the other giving this deep perspective of the well-known Venice. I like the way I can see people walking on the bridge like in a glass bowl. Maybe this bridge seems out of place in a city like this, but I wouldn't be surprised if in 20 years or so the Venetians just love it and cherish it as much as the Rialto bridge or any other. Not even Venice could remain just an outdoor museum. Being Swedish I also find the Malmö connection interesting.
Kindest regards,
Gert

PaulVDV (5395) 2008-12-01 10:59

Hello Santo,
A very good POV so we can enjoy the classical Venice and the new architecture of Calatrava.
Very good that we can see the people on the bridge through the glass. In this way there's life on an extra level.
Best regards, Paul

bobocortis (14144) 2008-12-01 12:46

Hello Santo.
Surely a great depth in this picture taken from a really well chosen pov.
I like the colors too and the well placed human figures crossing the shot.
Best regards.
Bobo.

SteveH (4001) 2008-12-01 18:00

Hi Santo, this image present an interesting contrast between the old buildings and ferry in the BG and the modern bridge. Great sky overlooking the scene too. Cheers, Steve

siamesa (13263) 2008-12-02 1:20

Hello Bobo,
I have read about Venice in this moment. Let's hope so that in the fantastic city doesn't happen what it is happening here in Santa Catarina, south of Brazil.
Regards
Maria

Silvio1953 (42957) 2008-12-02 11:58

Ciao Santo, POV originale per questa discussa opera, visto con la tua camera sembra bello, splendida compoizione piena di vita e con un magnifico scorcio su Venezia, bravo, ciao Silvio,

Atousa (3466) 2008-12-03 4:38

Salam Santo,

Interesting to see a new bridge n some old buildings in a shot..it is well composed with nice details , colours n framing..I hope to see Venice someday!..TFS
Best regards, A

alftrek (2931) 2008-12-03 16:36

Hello Santo,
You have chosen a good vantage point for this composition to present the bridge with its sweeping curve, and resulted in a superb sense of depth. The strong sunlight highlights the interesting domed buildings in the distant BG, which would otherwise fade away and escape the view's attention. A good piece of work made in Italy!

Cheers
Alfred

Personally, I am not sure the bridge actually goes well with those old buildings. The glass balustrade is a stark contrast to its surrounding.

fanni (8917) 2008-12-04 0:13

Hello Santo,
unusual POV, very impressive! I like the curve of the brige going to the other side. The construction, as you presented it here, looks fantastic LOL
Very interesting perspective. Beautiful buildings! But it's like two absolutely different worlds coexisting at the same place, at the same time... the modern bridge and History!
best regards,
Elena

wolf38 (13087) 2008-12-07 1:44

Hello santo. The photo pleases me very well. It is beautiful and worth seeing. Photographically skillfully realizes. Good compo. Regards, Wolfgang.