- The Venetian bridge brawls, known as "guerre dei pugni," were violent clashes between factions like the Castellani and Nicolotti, often fought on bridges for control and prestige.
- Bridges served as natural liminal spaces for these fights, helping contain the violence and maintain order, with weapons like fists and cudgels used while knives and stones were banned to prevent riots.
- The brawls became a popular spectacle by the 17th century, inspiring artworks that depicted the chaotic scenes, but declined after 1705 due to factors like loss of interest and shifts in Venetian society.