Views & landmarks
ponte della Costituzione
The Ponte della Costituzione is the fourth bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava, and was moved into place in 2007, amid protest by politicians and the general public. The bridge was installed in 2008 and opened to the public on the night of September 11, 2008. The bridge was known as Quarto Ponte sul Canal Grande before the official name was adopted to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Italian constitution in 2008. Tourists and locals in Venice now refer to it as the Calatrava Bridge.
What it is
The Ponte della Costituzione is the fourth bridge across the Grand Canal, connecting Piazzale Roma (where buses and cars arrive) to the Santa Lucia train station side. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it's a low steel-and-glass arch, quite different from the stone bridges elsewhere in the city. Most people cross it simply to move between the station and the bus terminal, but it's also worth a look for its modern design, which contrasts with the rest of Venice. The bridge is commonly called the Calatrava Bridge locally.
Getting there
It sits right between Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia station, so if you're arriving in Venice by train or bus, you'll likely cross it without planning to. From central areas like San Marco, it's roughly a 20-30 minute walk, or a similar time by vaporetto (water bus) to the Ferrovia or Piazzale Roma stops.
Time to allow
Crossing takes only a few minutes. Allow perhaps 10-15 minutes if you want to stop partway for photos of the canal.
When to go
Because it links the station and the main bus/car hub, it gets heavy foot traffic at most hours, especially when trains arrive. The glass steps can be slippery when wet, so caution is worth noting in rain. Early morning or later in the evening tends to be quieter for photos.
Combine it with
The bridge is on the western edge of the city, within walking distance of several sights: Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (0.6km), Ca' Rezzonico (0.7km), Fondaco dei Turchi (0.8km), and Ca' Vendramin Calergi (0.9km). It works well as a starting or ending point for a walk through the Santa Croce and Dorsoduro areas.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
