his
bridge was originally built in 1257, but has been reconstructed
a number of times due to frequent flooding.
The current shape of the bridge is the work of Ammannati, who realised
an idea of Michelangelo's, producing one of the most beautiful of
all the bridges.
Following serious damage caused by German mines in 1945, it was
rebuilt in the Sixties exactly as it had been before; the original
designs were used and parts of the damaged statues were recovered
from the river bed.
The four statues positioned on the corners of the bridge represent
the four seasons: Spring and Autumn are by Giovanni Caccini, Winter
is by Taddeo Landini, and Summer by Pietro Francavilla. These statues
were created to mark the marriage between Cosimo II and Maria Maddalena
of Austria in 1608.
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