Bridges have served as an important piece of infrastructure throughout the history of Venice and its formation from multiple islands. Before bridges existed in Venice, the numerous islands were separate communities with their own churches, stores, and lifestyles. At this time landowners used planks to cross from one island to the next and charged a small toll to those who wanted to cross over.Over time the methods of getting from one island to another in Venice have evolved. Initially, a boat known as a traghetto was used to transport people across the natural water ways. As stated above the first bridges were simple wooden planks placed across the smaller canals to enable passage. Eventually permanent bridges began being constructed out of wood. Today masonry bridges make up the majority of bridges seen in Venice, and a few metal bridges have been . These bridges vary in structural design and material composition.Bridges can be separated into private and public bridges. Public bridges are used by tourists and residents of Venice for regular transportation while private bridges are bridges that lead specifically to one or multiple households or business entrances. Approximately 2% of bridges are private bridges