Ponte dei Pugni
Ponte dei Pugni
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The area
Neighborhood: Dorsoduro / Accademia
Artsy is the defining mood of this neighborhood with street artists, students, painters, sculptors, restorers, curators, historians, collectors, heirs and heiresses rubbing elbows. Peggy Guggenheim's collection, now a museum, lures chic locals for evening art aperitifs. Traditionalists and visionaries cocoon in bohemian luxury. La Salute basilica buttresses the neighborhood to the east. Gondolas bob in the morning light. The Accademia Bridge crosses the Grand Canal. A back street doubles as basketball court. Palaces house residents, or like Ca' Foscari a university, or a museum like Ca’ Rezzonico that attracts Venetians for concerts. Dorsoduro reveals its industrial roots too, in buildings converted to house university departments or exhibitions. Campo Santa Margherita bursts with youthful energy from local students. Foot traffic bustles to and from Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia train station. Evening commuters pause for an aperitivo. Neighbors exchange confidants in a campo (square) on their way to market.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
123 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
61
Average
34
Poor
2
Terrible
0
David0ff82
Liverpool, UK1,449 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Myself and my partner were in Venice October 2023 to celebrate my partners 40th and we were exploring the city finding places of interest. We came to this bridge after reading it was a place where disagreements would be settled. It’s a nice little picturesque bridge in a busy area close to plenty of cafes and restaurants etc.
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raffiella11
Leicestershire, UK4,766 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
The famous Ponte dei Pugni bridge can be found near Campo San Barnaba, it crosses a very pretty canal, where also the famous venetian barge selling fruit/vegetables can be found. You will recognize the bridge by the white marble shoe imprint on each of the four corners.
The fights were very popular spectacles centuries ago, and drew huge crowds It would begin with champions placed on the four corners of the top of the bridge, with masses of fighters behind them, the marble footprints marking fighters’ starting points..
When the 1600s came to a close, the fights began to lose popularity, and aristocrats.
The battles were officially outlawed, for decades after the last battle, the fighters were celebrated in poetry, painting, and myth.
The fights were very popular spectacles centuries ago, and drew huge crowds It would begin with champions placed on the four corners of the top of the bridge, with masses of fighters behind them, the marble footprints marking fighters’ starting points..
When the 1600s came to a close, the fights began to lose popularity, and aristocrats.
The battles were officially outlawed, for decades after the last battle, the fighters were celebrated in poetry, painting, and myth.
Written March 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
may1787
Alaska951 contributions
Sep 2011 • Solo
There were beautiful grafitti hearts leading up to the footsteps. It was sort of a symbol of peace before the match.
Written June 20, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brad
Hong Kong, China175,773 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
This interesting historical small bridge, also known as the ‘Bridge of Fists’ can be found in the Dorsodoro district near Campo San Barnaba. Here you can see a bridge with four footprint marks where neighbourhood and gang fights would begin in centuries past.
This is sort of a fun little attraction, although a minor one at best for Venice. However, if you are planning to visit the Dorsodoro district, its worth a few minutes of your time. The Ponte dei Pugni is located just past Campo San Barnaba as you are walking in the direction of Campo Santa Margherita.
This is sort of a fun little attraction, although a minor one at best for Venice. However, if you are planning to visit the Dorsodoro district, its worth a few minutes of your time. The Ponte dei Pugni is located just past Campo San Barnaba as you are walking in the direction of Campo Santa Margherita.
Written February 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel42,755 contributions
May 2022
This is a lovely little bridge, like which there are countless others in Venice.
It's quite picturesque, despite its size.
It's quite picturesque, despite its size.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angelo S
Hilliard, OH5,125 contributions
Sep 2019
As a place for settle disputes between neighborhoods or large families, the Pone dei Pugni was the scene of many fights before fighting on the bridge was banned. I am sure many tourists pass over it not understanding the history or wondering what the white footprints are for. Cool bit of history.
Written December 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoCalOregonian
Murrieta, CA10,355 contributions
Apr 2019
This location was used in the 1600’s as a place for fist fights between differing clans. The loser would be thrown into the canal. Today there are painted footprints on the bridge where the combatants would stand prior to the fights. A floating fruit stand ties up adjacent to the bridge on the Rio San Barnaba.
Written August 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aimeé W
London, UK130 contributions
Jan 2019
Could almost miss the bridge amongst the shops and marker traders selling fruit and veg from their boats almost under the bridge but great little find and photo opportunity!
Written January 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maggi713
Baltimore, MD12,376 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
This bridge links the Campo Santa Margherita to Campo San Barnaba. It is called the “Bridge of Fists” because for over 100 years vicious fistfights used to take place between the Castellani and the Nicolotti clans. When walking across Ponte dei Pugni, remember to look at the stone footprints which marked the starting posts for these fights. Once there were no fences, and the one that fell in the water was the loser!
Written May 16, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chriswood72
Nottingham, UK1,354 contributions
Nov 2017 • Family
As with many of the bridges in Venice each has its own little bit of unique history unfortunately sometimes overlooked by it's larger counterparts such as the Rialto.
Rival clans in Venice would meet in the middle of this bridge and fight with their fists, the tradition being the winner would throw his opponent into the canal.
Worth taking time to visit if you're in the area but if you are limited for time then spend time seeing the other major attractions instead.
As this was our second visit to Venice and had seen all the major sights it gave us more time to explore the less touristy areas of this great city.
Rival clans in Venice would meet in the middle of this bridge and fight with their fists, the tradition being the winner would throw his opponent into the canal.
Worth taking time to visit if you're in the area but if you are limited for time then spend time seeing the other major attractions instead.
As this was our second visit to Venice and had seen all the major sights it gave us more time to explore the less touristy areas of this great city.
Written November 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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