Florence

Photographer's Note

Hello Everyone,

I have shown two bridges on the Arno in Florence, the Santa Trinita and the Ponte della Grazie; today it is the most famous of all the bridges, the Ponte Vecchio.

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We were so lucky when we were there, the sun was shining and the wind was still, giving excellent conditions for reflections on the water!

The Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, was built very close to the Roman crossing, and was, until 1218, the only bridge across the Arno in Florence. The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that was not destroyed.

When the Medici moved from Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti, they decided they needed a connecting route from the Uffizi to the Palazzo Pitti on the other side of the Arno that would enable them to keep out of contact with the people they ruled. The result was the Corridoio Vasariano, built in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari and which runs above the little goldsmiths' shops on the Ponte Vecchio.

There have been shops on Ponte Vecchio since the 13th century. Initially, there were all types of shops, including butchers and fishmongers and, later, tanners, but in 1593, Ferdinand I decreed that only goldsmiths and jewellers be allowed to have their shops on the bridge in order to improve the well-being of all, including their own as they walked over the bridge.

Today, the goldsmiths shops are still there and are a buzz with eager tourists.

I wish you a happy weekend, Bev :-)

ikeharel, Fis2, jean113, jhm, holmertz, pierrefonds, COSTANTINO, ktanska, PaulVDV, adramad, worldcitizen, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Tue (91604) 2021-04-03 7:31

Hello Beverley,
A great photo of this famous part of Florence. The iconic bridge and the houses make a nice corner here, which is reflected so wonderfully in the calm water. The colours are natural in this gentle sunlight.
Lars

ikeharel (112467) 2021-04-03 7:31

A fabulous reflection of the famous bridge over the Arno, Beverley.
Warm tones prevailed and wonderfully shine over the picture space.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

Fis2 (169759) 2021-04-03 7:38

Witaj Bev!
Another very curious bridge.
Good framing and composition.
The reflectin makes impression.
Nice presentation.
Nice afternoon.
Krzysztof

Silvio1953 (220637) 2021-04-03 7:47

Ciao cara Bev, great view of most famous bridge of Florence, beautiful reflections, wonderful colors, splendid light, fine details and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, Happy Easter, ciao Silvio

pajaran (114945) 2021-04-03 8:10

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled i trenutak, interesantan i dobar tekst ...
Lep refleks na vodi i arhitektura, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Lep stari most i beli oblaci, lepa fotografija.
Zelim vam sve najbolje za vikend.
Paja

jean113 (27639) 2021-04-03 8:23

Hello Beverley, a great shot in bright sunlight with beautiful reflections.
I have a very similar shot, which I guess most people who have stood here will also have in their photo library.
The blue sky is the perfect background.
Interesting notes.
Kind regards, Jean.

jhm (211734) 2021-04-03 9:44

Hello Bev,

Pleasant panorama with the part of the city and the lovely old bridge, also pleasant reflections.
Also a lovely light blue sky.
Nice composition and and good presentation
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice Easter weekend,
John

holmertz (102008) 2021-04-03 9:46

Hello Bev,
The relatively modern houses to the left fit the bridge and other surroundings quite well by the choice of colours, but the small attachments to the bridge, looking like bird houses, are very much more charming. This was taken from a very good angle, probably not unique but one where we don't see the crowds of tourists on the bridge. It was also a well chosen angle for the superb reflections on that nice and sunny day.

One rainy day I will have to take a look at my Italian photos from 1969. I wouldn't expect much, but maybe by coincidence I happened to take two or three photos that are still acceptable.
Kind regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (113610) 2021-04-03 13:22

Hi Bev,

The reflections on the water are assets to the composition. The point of view is showing the details of the buildings and of the Ponte Vecchio. The light is making the colors to stand out. Have a nice dya.

Pierre

lousat (138623) 2021-04-03 13:33

Hi Bev,the most popular bridge of Firenze but taken in this original composition,not the usual frontal full view but this very nice one,full of bright reflections and showing the buildings too,very well done! Happy Easter and thanks for share,Luciano

ifege (46985) 2021-04-03 20:56

Hi Bev
You certainly struck a good still day for taking this good series of reflections photos along the Arno.
cheers
Ian

ChrisJ (171252) 2021-04-03 21:41

Hello Beverley,

Good timing to catch the concentric circles of the ripples in the river. Excellent sharpness & tremendous reflections in the mirror like surface of the Arno. Tfs!

COSTANTINO (115563) 2021-04-03 22:34

Hello dear Beverley
your three last photos are the best
of all
these reflections are unique
regards
costantino

jemaflor (146312) 2021-04-03 23:16

Hi Bev,
With your last views taken in this town and bridge of this famous river I think of our posts would be about this so famous and photogenic bridge ... very nice with a perfect double view with water reflections, good quality for the rendering, so photogenic, tfs.

ktanska (44484) 2021-04-04 2:45

Hi Bev,
So here is the famous bridge. The light was really perfect when you were there. Half cloudy sky. Still water. And sunshine on the bridge while houses behind the river are in shadow for contrast.
Kari

ricardomattos (17408) 2021-04-04 8:20

Hi Bev

Amazing picture of this famous city Florence. Nice reflections to bring all the beauty in double. Lovely this famous Ponte Vecchio !!

Congratulations

Ricardo

PaulVDV (62804) 2021-04-04 14:24

Hello Beverley,
So here we get the famous and wonderful Ponte Vecchio!
Nice to show the part that forms the corner with the buildings along the quay.
Splendid with the clear reflections in the Arno and especially with the two eyes formed by the arches of the bridge.
What a beautiful place!
Best regards, Paul

everlasting (19680) 2021-04-05 5:35

a picture postcard from Florence. good depth of colours and fine reflections.

kasianowak (17672) 2021-04-05 11:34

Lovely colours, light and reflection. Even the sky looks quite special. Florence is such a special city and this is the best part of it.
You just made me miss Italy!
Have a nice week.
Kasia

jmdias (114296) 2021-04-05 12:02

bev

a nice view with many reflection in this corner with the shapes of this famous bridge and the façades. nice photo. I remember a similar bridge with stores in lincoln.

take care

jorge

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-04-05 22:31

Hi Beverley
Interesting capture of this wonderful architecture and the iconic bridge, taken on a sunny day. The beautiful crystal clear reflections adds a strong point of interest.
Best regards

adramad (72564) 2021-04-06 9:51

Hi Bev.
Wonderful this composition of the Old Bridge and the houses on the banks of the Arno, which provides spectacular reflections with its calm waters, a beautiful sky with light clouds that look like graffiti.
Very nice coloring, in some very attractive tones.
Optimal brightness management and superb sharpness.
Very well done. I like very much.
All the best for you.
Luis.

worldcitizen (15958) 2021-04-09 11:56

Hello Bev,
This photo is another gem, with more amazing reflections. I like the "V" shape where the older buildings meet the old bridge. It's all so beautiful. Great shot!

mcmtanyel (67681) 2021-04-25 16:30

Hello Bev,
Interesting covered bridge is accompanied by lovely reflections. Look, your name is on one of the apartment buildings! You must be famous!
Cheers,
MT