The Alpine Bridge

The first version of the bridge dates back to 1209, when it was constructed in wood to connect the two banks of the Brenta River. Thanks to its strategic position, the bridge promoted trade and the city’s development. Its original structure was destroyed multiple times over the centuries due to floods, wars, and fires.
In 1450, a flood completely destroyed the bridge, which was rebuilt and reopened with a toll system in 1453.
In 1498, the bridge was severely damaged for various reasons and reconstructed with the support of the Republic of Venice.
In 1511, during the War of the League of Cambrai, retreating French troops, pursued by the Venetians, set fire to the bridge. A temporary ferry was immediately arranged to ensure crossing, but it took until 1519 to complete the reconstruction after much negotiation, official decrees, and expert evaluations.
At the request of Doge Loredan, the bridge was rebuilt “in the manner and form it had in the past.” Between 1520 and 1569, the bridge was reconstructed multiple times, once even in stone. In 1569, after yet another flood, the reconstruction was entrusted to Andrea Palladio. Palladio retained the wooden structure, respecting local tradition, but designed a work of great elegance and functionality capable of resisting the powerful currents of the river.

During the First World War, the bridge played a crucial role as a strategic point for supplying and moving Italian troops, being close to the front line. Bassano was an important location for defending the northeastern border and suffered heavy bombing.
On September 17, 1915, an Austrian aircraft dropped a bomb on the bridge. It was the first of 527 bombs that fell on Bassano. Although the roof was severely damaged, the bridge remained operational, allowing the transit of artillery for the defense of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni and the retreat at Caporetto.
In 1916, the bridge was again severely damaged but was quickly repaired to maintain its vital function for war logistics.
During the Second World War, the Ponte Vecchio suffered further devastation. In 1945, during the German retreat, the bridge was blown up. Before this, Allied bombings aimed at destroying the bridge had failed, hitting the nearby Ponte della Vittoria instead. The Regional Veneto Command ordered its destruction to prevent its use by the enemy. On February 17, 1945, an attack by the partisan brigade “Martiri del Grappa” damaged the Angarano side of the bridge, rendering it unusable but causing civilian casualties. The following day, German forces executed three young men on the bridge in retaliation.

In 1948, the bridge was rebuilt faithfully following Palladio's original design, thanks to the commitment of the Alpini. This reconstruction symbolized resilience and the rebirth of Bassano and Italy as a whole. Since then, it has been known as the Ponte degli Alpini, in honor of the military corps that played a key role in its revival. The inauguration took place on October 3, 1948, in the presence of Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi and Senate President Ivanoe Bonomo. The event coincided with the 22nd National Assembly of the Alpini, the first held after World War II, marking an important moment of unity and renewal.
In the decades that followed, several maintenance works were carried out. However, the wear caused by the Brenta River's floods and the passage of time necessitated a more extensive restoration project. Between 2019 and 2021, a major intervention replaced the damaged wooden support piles, reinforced the structure, and restored the railings, all while meticulously respecting Palladio's original design.
This restoration returned to the city of Bassano a bridge that is safe, authentic, and ready to withstand future challenges.