Arching high over the water, linking a palace with a prison, is a spectacular bridge steeped in local legends.
The 17th-century Bridge of Sighs sits above the Palace River. It was designed to connect the interrogation rooms of Doge's Palace with a prison on the other side of the waterway. Discover why this white limestone structure is considered to be one of the most romantic sites in Venice, despite its dark history.
The magnificent crossing was named by the poet Lord Byron in the 19th century, inspired by a local legend. Prisoners who crossed the enclosed walkway on their way to prison gave a sigh of regret. They did so as they took a last look at the city through the bridge’s windows.
Enter the bridge via the palace to view Venice through the stone bars, just like the prisoners used to do all those years ago. Then take a gondola ride and pass under the structure. From the water, you are able to study the Italian Renaissance-style bridge in more detail. Look up to see the mascarons, decorative ornaments in the form of happy and sad faces.
A ride on the river to the bridge is the source of another theory about how it got its name. This one claims that lovers who go on a sunset gondola ride and kiss each other under the bridge are granted eternal love and bliss. They sigh because they are overwhelmed with romance.
The bridge connects Doge’s Palace to the Palazzo delle Prigioni Nuove and is a short walk along the waterfront from Piazza San Marco. Take a tour of the palace, then cross the bridge via one of its two corridors to the former prison. This building was also used as an infirmary. Book ahead for these tours because they fill up quickly, especially during the peak tourist season.
