In the early 18th century in St. Petersburg on the left Bank of the Fontanka river was built the Palace, which resembled the Italian home entertainment of the era. It was called Italian. There were various gatherings, meetings, negotiations. From the Palace to the street sign (in our time Vosstaniya street) was located in a large garden with greenhouses that also after some time began to call Italian. After the Palace and garden street got the name of the first Garden Italian, later Small Italian. It's raw right Bank of the Fontanka street (opposite the Palace) was to be called the Big Italian. Accordingly, the bridge connecting both Italian streets, Large and Small, also became known as the Italian. In 1902, these streets were renamed: Small Italian – in Zhukovsky street, and a Large Italian – in Italian.

Italian bridge connects across the Griboedov canal Spassky and Kazan Islands Central district of the city. It is next to the Church of the Resurrection, known as the Savior on Blood, and close to State Russian Museum (Mikhailovsky Palace), 300 meters from the metro station "Gostiny Dvor" (output per channel Griboedov).

Built Italian bridge was in 1896 in place lichnogo transportation. Single-span wooden structure consisted of wooden trusses with a span in the light constituted 19, 7 M. the author of the project – engineer L. N. Scalpicin. To save the clearance under the bridge from both ends were built exterior staircases. The deck was paved magnesite slabs. In 1902, according to the project of K. Balde the bridge was rebuilt, replacing magnesite slab boards.

In 1911-1912 this design was replaced by a new one, designed by engineer K. V. Efimov. Now the Italian bridge was stacked with supports made of three rows of wooden piles, arranged in 2 mutually perpendicular directions. The span of the bridge was 9, 1 m.

In 1937 the Italian bridge fully rebuilt so that through him it was possible to hold two district heating pipes. According to documents 1946 the bridge was 18, 4 meters, hole bridge – 8, 5 m, and the width between handrails is just over 2 meters.

Over time the bridge was in disrepair. In 1955, during the repair of the embankment it was again rebuilt in its present appearance. Engineering calculations were made by V. S. Vasilkovsky and A. D. Gutzeit.

Italian bridge was built in the classical style. He kept the original fixtures. Decoration very similar to the artistic elements of other bridges built in the early 19th century. The railing of the bridge – section. They are made from rods with rounded capitals – drop-flowers – decorated wrought iron racks with additional details: peaks with sprigs of acacia, round shield with crossed swords. On the shield a five-pointed star, which were circulated as elements of decoration in the Soviet era.

Fencing of the bridge is reminiscent of classic designs. The appearance of the lighting elements of the Italian bridge – lamps and floor lamps – similar to the samples of Russian classicism and recalls, for example, floor lamps Green bridge on the Moika. The facades of support beams also have the decoration in the classical style, but instead of sculptural ornament with floral or animal theme, common in the classical fields of beams separated by curved arcs into three parts. It recalls the division of the entablature of buildings made in the style of classicism, on the frieze, architrave and cornice.

The lower and upper band beams decorated with many architectural details and elements.