Ponte Vecchio

First day in Florence, temperature around 32C we understand.
This is one of the City icons.
The "old bridge" is, in fact, the oldest bridge in the city, and the only medieval one to have survived destruction during WW2.
A bridge has existed in this part of Florence from early Roman times.
Originally slightly further upstream, it was frequently swept away by the river when in full spate, until the present one was built in1345.
Even when first built, Ponte Vecchio was lined with houses and shops, rented out to butchers and greengrocers by the Wool Guild which was responsible for its administration.
At the end of the 16th C , Grand Duke Ferdinando I decided to house gold and silver smiths there instead, and even today the bridge is famed for its jewellery shops.
My personal judgment was that the general character of the jewellery on sale is that it was over-priced "bling!"