Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge opened in 1591 and is the oldest and most celebrated of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It is a wide bridge, containing two rows of shops, with a stepped street between them. There are also narrower steps at either side for those who wish to avoid the crowded centre passage.

The model is a fairly large one (41cm. x 29cm. x 13cm. high) and consists of 24 individual parts. (See the lettered diagram above. Note that it is not entirely symmetrical.) You will need two copies each of parts B, C, H, L, P, Q & R, and one copy of all the other parts. Most of the parts have pegs and slots to help with positioning, and will need to be fixed together permanently with dabs of Superglue.

Recommended order of assembly is as follows: Begin with the base parts (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) then add the balustrades (K, L, M, N, O) and the three corner steps (H x2 & J). Finally, add the two rows of shops and the centre arches (P, Q, R). The shops (P & Q) slot into the