Ponte Vecchio

Florence's most historic bridge and an essential part of its skyline, the Ponte Vecchio will probably be one of those activities that will involve a few pictures and a short time perusing souvenirs before you are onto bigger and better things. Still, it's sense of history is nearly palpable, having originally been constructed in the 10th century and remaining both a practical and tourist attraction in various iterations over the years. This covered bridge was once the site of butcher shops, but now houses curio-dealers and other tourist-related business that centers largely around gold jewelry; still, it connects some of the iconic landmarks of the area via both the bridge and the Vasari Corridor, which grants direct access to the Palazzo Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, and the ancient church, Santa Felicita.