There are more than 400 bridges in Venice. The Rialto Bridge is the most famous one. It was built in 1180. Originally a wooden bridge, it was rebuilt as a stone bridge from 1580 to 1592. It is the symbol of Venice. The bridge is 48 meters long and 22 meters wide. It is 7 meters high from the water. There are halls and pavilions in the middle of the bridge. There are shops on both sides. They sell all kinds of souvenirs and specialties. There are many tourists here every day, who can look at the canal from the bridge and shop on both sides. They are totally immersed in the atmosphere of Venice. This is the background of Shakespeare's famous play The Merchant of Venice. We traveled under the bridge in Gondola, but had no time to walk on it.