Ponte Vecchio is one of the most iconic buildings in the whole of Florence. But it didn’t always look like this. Back in Roman times, you’d be standing on a wooden bridge - built on the narrowest part of the river. It was destroyed by a flood and was rebuilt in stone in 1345. Nobody’s quite sure who designed it, but it's believed this innovative bridge, with its three segmental arches (instead of the usual five round ones) is the work of either Taddeo Gaddi or Neri di Fioravante. Either way, its clever design gave the river more space to flow, especially during floods. When a second bridge (Ponte alla Carraia) was built, Ponte Vecchio was given its current name, meaning the old bridge. The characteristic overhanging houses were built in order to allow space for shops - and cheat the tax system, as taxes were only calculated on the ground. Sneaky!