Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is an iconic landmark, which locals call the Ponte dei Sospiri, was built in 1600. It connects the Doge's Palace with the historic prison through a canal. The prisoners who were tried in Venice were initially held in underground prison cells inside the Doge's Palace. As the number of prisoners grew, the prison was expanded to a building across the canal called the New Prison, and the Bridge of Sighs was built to transport passengers directly from the 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 the 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 was standing in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs, with a palace and a prison on each side."

The gloom 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, it highlights both buildings to which it adjoins. One of the most curious details on its surface is the 20 stone faces on the lower arch of the bridge. Since this is a bridge designed for prisoners, 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 of the ways to pass the Bridge of Sighs and see it from the inside is to book a tour of the Doge's Palace. Groups with guided tours begin with a view of the palace in the Republic of Venice, then cross the bridge and take a tour of the prison, following the same path and getting the same final look as the prisoners many centuries ago. The easiest way to see the Bridge of Sighs from the side is to step onto one of the neighboring bridges. The easiest way to get to the Paglia Bridge is next to St. Mark's Square and just behind the Doge's Palace. This is one of the most passable bridges in Venice, so it is usually crowded, but the light penetrates from behind and perfectly illuminates the landmark for photography.