Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Sighs is an iconic landmark known locally as Ponte dei Sospiri, built in 1600. It connects the Doge's Palace with the historical prison via a canal. Prisoners tried in Venice were initially held in underground prison cells inside the Doge's Palace. As the prison population grew, the prison was expanded into a building across the canal called the New Gaol, and the Bridge of Sighs was built to take passengers directly from court to their cells.
Origin of the name
According to legend, the name of the bridge comes from the sighs of prisoners who crossed the bridge on the way to local prison cells, barely seeing Venice through the tiny windows. The bridge and its unforgettable name became especially famous after the Romantic poet Lord Byron mentioned it in his 1812 book Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, writing: “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs, with a palace and a prison on each side.” ".
The darkness of the place
The Baroque visual style makes the Bridge of Sighs one of the most beautiful bridges in all of Venice, with its white limestone and striking design highlighting both buildings it adjoins. One of the most interesting details on its surface is the 20 stone faces on the lower arch of the bridge. Since this is a bridge meant for prisoners, the 10 faces on the bridge show emotions of fear and sadness, one of the faces is smiling. These faces are the result of the Italian Baroque style, designed to frighten evil and give them access to buildings and their inhabitants. Throughout the history of bridge construction in Venice, the Bridge of Sighs remains the only covered bridge in the entire city. Its passage is completely covered with stone, and only two windows overlook San Giorgio and the lagoon.
Possible paths
One way to walk the Bridge of Sighs and see it from the inside is to book a tour of the Doge's Palace. Tour groups begin by viewing the palace in the Republic of Venice, then walk across the bridge and tour the prison, following the same path and receiving the same final view as prisoners did centuries ago. The easiest way to see the Bridge of Sighs from the outside is to step on one of the neighboring bridges. The easiest way to get to the Paglia Bridge is near Piazza San Marco and just behind the Doge's Palace. This is one of the most traveled bridges in Venice, so it is usually crowded, but the light comes in from behind and illuminates the landmark perfectly for photography.
