Italian Bridge

Bridge in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Italian Bridge
Итальянский мост
Italian bridge, upstream view, 2015
Coordinates59°56′14″N 30°19′37″E / 59.937247°N 30.327033°E / 59.937247; 30.327033
CrossesGriboyedov Canal
LocaleSaint Petersburg
Characteristics
DesignArch Bridge
Total length22.5 m (74 ft)
Width3 m (9.8 ft)
History
Opened1896 (wooden), 1968
Location
Interactive map of Italian Bridge
Итальянский мост

The Italian Bridge (Russian: Итальянский мост) is a 22.5 m (74 ft) long and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide single-span beam pedestrian bridge crossing the Griboyedov Canal in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It connects Kazansky Island [ru] and Spassky Island [ru] in the city's Tsentralny District.[1] The bridge takes its name from Italyanskaya Street.[2]

History

Italian bridge railing

The bridge was built in 1896 in the place of a boat ferry as a single span wooden bridge which connected Bolshaya and Malaya Italyanskaya Streets. Railway engineer Leonid N. Kolpitsyn proposed building a bridge across the canal, but as the city authorities declined to endorse the project, he built it at his own expense.[1] The novelty at the time was use of xilolit plates as a paving material.[1] The bridge opened to pedestrians on 6 October 1896, at a cost of 3,500 rubles.[1] The city authorities expressed gratitude, but refused to reimburse the construction costs, and also rejected his proposal of introducing a toll of 1 kopeck per person. Kolpitsyn ultimately donated the bridge to the city.[1]

In 1902 the bridge was rebuilt for the first time, the xylolite slabs replaced with plank decking, overseen by Karl Baldi [ru].[1] In 1911-1912 it was rebuilt again, with the trusses replaced with a timber strut structure, under the supervision of engineer K. V. Yefimyev. In 1912, the trusses were replaced with a timber strut structure. In 1937, it was rebuilt as a pedestrian heat-conducting bridge with two thermal pipes, and rebuilt in 1955 with a steel beam superstructure with elaborate decorations. In 1996, the "Venetian" lanterns and railing were restored.[2] The bridge has the status of an object of regional significance on the Russian cultural heritage register.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Итальянский мост". mostotrest-spb.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b Guzevich, D. Yu.; Suponitsky, S. Z.; Kozlovskaya, N. M. "Итальянский мост". encspb.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Итальянский мост" (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Итальянский мост" (in Russian). Retrieved 7 December 2025.

59°56′14″N 30°19′37″E / 59.9373°N 30.327°E / 59.9373; 30.327


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