iconic view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (often called “the Salute”) from the Ponte dell’Accademia (Accademia Bridge) in Venice.
 
The Ponte dell’Accademia has a remarkable history spanning centuries. In 1488, Provveditore Luca Tron proposed two bridges across the Grand Canal, but council members laughed at him and rejected the motion without voting. For nearly 400 years, Venice remained a city of boats and walkways.
 
The first actual bridge here was opened on 20 November 1854—one of Venice’s first bridges across the Grand Canal. It was an iron and steel structure designed by English architect A.E. Neville (who also designed the nearby Ponte degli Scalzi). Originally called Ponte della Carità after the nearby church, it served Venetians for 78 years.
 
In 1933, the iron bridge was replaced with an all-wooden structure designed by engineer Eugenio Miozzi. Opened 15 February 1933, it was Europe’s largest wooden arch bridge at the time—though it was intended to be temporary. The bridge was renamed Ponte dell’Accademia after the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia took over the nearby Scuola della Carità complex.
The original wooden bridge was actually replaced in 1985 after an architectural competition, when the crumbling Mussolini-era structure was swapped for a new wooden replica of the 1932 design. A major restoration by engineer Antonio Pantuso was completed, reopening 28 August 2018.
 
Interesting facts...
The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute has an even more dramatic origin story. In 1630, the plague swept through Venice, killing approximately one-third of the population. The Venetian Senate made vowed if the Virgin Mary ended the plague, they would build a magnificent church in her honour. They did!