| "Ponte dei Pugni is a bridge, located in the Dorsoduro district, near Campo San Barnaba.
It takes its name from an ancient tradition of Venice abandoned for centuries: the War of fists. The inhabitants of two opposing factions, the Castellani San Pietro di Castello and Nicolotti of St. Nicholas of Mendicoli fought to “fists” at the top of the bridge. The purpose of the “game” was to throw the opponents in the river. The winner was the team that kept most of his men on deck. This tradition, over time, became too violent and dangerous and was suspended several times by the Republic, which lead, after several serious accidents including deaths, to its final deletion in the eighteenth century. The bridge has four foot imprints in Istria stone in memory of this “War”." |
