RIALTO AT VENICE. J.89 



stream has perforated the rock in its descent, and falls in a sort of curtain 

 over the lower part of it into the channel at the foot. Over these 

 falls, and about half way up the mountains, there is a splendid arch or 

 natural bridge; and still higher, where the chasm is narrower, there is 

 also a rude bridge made by hand, with a kind of balustrade for additional 

 protection to the adventurous passenger. 



THE RIALTO AT VENICE. 



THIS city of " bright and glittering palaces" is intersected in every 

 direction by canals ; and, it is said, that there are more than 500 bridges. 

 Over the grand canal, which divides the city in two equal parts, is the 

 celebrated Rialto. It is affirmed by one very competent to give an 

 opinion, that the term Riva-alta, or Rialto, comprehended the little island 

 upon which the first church was built in Venice by the fugitives from 

 the persecution of Attila, and became the nucleus of the future city ; 

 modern times has confined the appellation to the bridge only. 



It was commenced under the government of the Republic in 1588, 

 (Pascal Cigogne being Doge), by the great Michael Angelo, and finished 

 in 1594. It consists of one flat and bold arch of nearly 100 feet span, 

 and only twenty -three feet above the water. The breadth of the bridge 

 is forty-three feet, and is on the top divided by two rows of shops 

 into three streets, of which that in the middle is the widest, and there is 

 also in the centre an open archway by which the three streets communi- 

 cate with one another ; the whole exterior of the bridge and of the shops 

 is of marble. At each end of the bridge there is an ascent of fifty-six 

 steps, and the view from the top is very beautiful. The foundation of the 

 structure extends ninety feet, and rests upon 12,000 elm piles. It is 

 said to have cost 250,000 ducats. 



In Shakspeare's time it was considered the most beautiful bridge in the 

 world, and this celebrity probably caused its frequent mention in his 

 Merchant of Venice as a mart or exchange, " where merchants most do 

 congregate." Our readers will also recollect Shylock's first speech to 

 Antonio : 



" Many a time, and ofl 



On the Rialto have you rated me, 

 About my monies and my usances." 



