Ponte San Canciano (St. Canciano Bridge), Venice

The Saint Canciano Bridge, situated in the Cannaregio district, is one of the 400 bridges in Venice, featuring a base integrated into the ground floor of a palace adorned with two ancient wrought-iron handles shaped like anchors, embedded in the corner walls of the bridge.

Observe those who ascend the thirteen steps of the bridge from the San Canciano square, then descend the seven steps leading to the Calle della Malvasia, and those who traverse the same street in the opposite direction. You will notice that many pedestrians crossing the bridge, regardless of age, raise their hand upon reaching the palace and quickly grasp the first handle they encounter. They make it ring against the wall; then, without even looking, they seize the other handle hidden behind the corner and slam it with determination... a ritual passed down through centuries to attract good fortune.

From the San Canciano Bridge, you may reach Calle del Fumo, which opens up to Fondamenta Nove, where your gaze stretches towards the islands of Murano and San Michele, and on clear days, you can catch a glimpse of the Dolomites, the mountains immortalized by Titian.