In this paper, we analyze the maximum energy that can be extracted from a piezoelectric harvester subject to pulsed excitation, with an interface circuit composed by a standard bridge rectifier. We show that the optimal voltage of the DC load of the bridge rectifier is a fraction, comprised between 1/3 and 1/2, of the open-circuit voltage, depending on the piezoelectric losses and excitation time. A simple analytical model is provided, whose accuracy has been assessed against SPICE simulations. Furthermore, preliminary experimental tests carried out over a commercial piezoelectric tile confirm the validity of the proposed model.