Venice - Academy Bridge

(Local Name: Ponte dell'Accademia) For centuries the only bridge over the Canal Grande was the Ponte di Rialto, then in 1854 Austria, the occupying power since 1815 when Venice became part of the Habsburg Kingdom of Lombardy-Veneto, decided to erect a second footbridge and the Ponte dell'Accademia, a small iron bridge, was built. In 1932 the iron bridge was demolished and replaced by a wooden bridge. Looked upon as a temporary measure, it was to be replaced by a stone bridge, but this was never built.