Comments on: Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande by Santiago Calatrava

By: Hayley Harding

Hayley Harding — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 23:30:36 +0000

I have just come across the blog so a bit late commenting this post. I visited during the 08 Biennale which coincided with our site visit to the Giudecca. We left venice via the coach station as opposed to our arrival by water taxi. My memory of leaving this stunning place was the awkward walk over the bridge, not just because of all my luggage but the rhythm of the stairs as you journey over them is so awful and uncomfortable to walk up, this small detail seams to me as important as overall aesthetic of the structure.

By: Guillermo Lumbreras

Guillermo Lumbreras — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:16:25 +0000

I´ve been there in Venice twice this year, and even you would say that the bridge looks great, magnificent or bla bla bla, it´s just a useless beatiful structure.

It´s very difficult to cross it if you have your luggage with you (and most people is coming from the station, so they are all carrying their big bags).There is no ramp, no elevator, no nothing… not even mention disabled (wheelchair) people!

Second point is that when you are about to cross it, there is a big announcement which says that if you are carrying something (bags, luggage, whatever) which exceed more than (i guess it says 30kg) then you cannot cross by that bridge. Which for my way to see things, the structure is not really good enough or it was just made for slim, able (that both of your legs are just perfect) and without carying anything… stupid thing!!!

Third point. I don´t understand why there are these glass steps if you cannot see anything under the bridge, it just made it more expensive that what it was already.

By: mahrous

mahrous — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:59:08 +0000

it looks like a fish skeleton and the finishing is really great

By: Andrew Irvine

Andrew Irvine — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:41:59 +0000

If there is to be a wheelchair lift then the disabled access is better; the steps are a VERY gentle introduction to the bridges of Venice, and wheelchair access is very difficult in the rest of the City; this may alter in the future, and a through-route devised, failing this the solution is pay even more for your holiday in Venice and engage a Porter at the station who will certainly be capable of getting a wheelchair over all of the bridges -they also transport luggage if you cannot manage that either. Bear in mind that, disabled or not, a holiday in Venice WILL be expensive, but the Vaporetti are more accessible than most City road busses and the Staff are almost always extremely helpful.

By: mickeycz

mickeycz — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:25:35 +0000

Most of the bridges in Venice have steps on them, and Ponte Scalzi certainly has a lot of steps. One sound you get used to at all hours is the sound of wheeled luggage on the calle, then being pulled one step at a time up and over the bridges. Likewise strollers are a struggle for travellers to get across bridges. On one of the islands there was a lift over for a wheelchair. I assume it was needed be a resident nearby and the accommodation was made.

I know it is a struggle to travel with handicaps, (and I include very small clueless children here) but the bridges cannot be flattened with the boat traffic there. There are also very few buildings with an elevator in Venice, so we count the steps to the door we go to. By law, and due to acqua alta, the ground floor cannot be inhabited in Venice.

My sister in law wanted to see the apartment where she grew up and barely recognized it as the two rios there are no more. The city filled in and paved them over.

Venice also has “streets” that would be too narrow for a wheelchair.

I love Venice. If I became handicapped, though, I would have to think very hard about travel to it