Ponte dei Pugni

Ponte dei Pugni, meaning “Bridge of Fists”, is a historic pedestrian bridge crossing the Rio di San Barnaba in the Dorsoduro district of Venice, Italy, close to Campo San Barnaba. The bridge takes its name from organised fist fights once held between rival Venetian factions, particularly the Castellani and Nicolotti. Fighters began from marked positions at the top of the bridge and attempted to knock their opponents into the canal below. Four footprints set into the paving still indicate the traditional starting positions. The increasingly violent contests were prohibited after a particularly serious confrontation in 1705.

Ponte dei Pugni has appeared in Summertime (1955) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Its position beside Campo San Barnaba places it within an area of Dorsoduro that has been used extensively for location filming.

In Summertime (1955), Ponte dei Pugni appears during several scenes around Campo San Barnaba involving Jane Hudson and Renato de Rossi. The bridge can be seen behind them while Jane visits the area around Renato’s antique shop. It is particularly visible during the sequence in which Jane attempts to photograph the shop, walks backwards while looking through her camera and accidentally falls into the Rio San Barnaba. Ponte dei Pugni is clearly visible farther along the canal during the scene.

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Indiana Jones, Marcus Brody and Dr Elsa Schneider cross Ponte dei Pugni while walking through Venice towards the library where Henry Jones disappeared while researching the Holy Grail. During the walk, Indiana picks a flower and gives it to Elsa as they cross the bridge. Their route continues to nearby Campo San Barnaba, where the façade of the Church of San Barnaba represents the fictional Venetian library.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

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