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The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri, Venetian: Ponte de i Sospiri) is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace.
Bridge of Sighs, enclosed bridge in Venice, Italy, spanning the narrow canal (Rio di Palazzo) between the Doge’s Palace and the prisons. It was built about 1600 by the architect Antonio Contino. The enclosed passageway was so called from the ‘sighs’ of the prisoners who passed over it.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 10, 2023 · The “Ponte dei Sospiri” or “Bridge of Sighs” is an enclosed limestone bridge in baroque style located next to the Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy. It was commissioned by the Doge Marino Grimani, whose family coat-of-arms can be seen in the centre of the facade.
- The Importance of The Ponte Dei Sospiri
- Visit The Bridge of Sighs
- Opening Hours of The Bridge Over The Rio Di Palazzo
- Waiting Times at The Bridge of Sighs
- The Architecture of The Bridge
- The Famous Bridge at Night!
- The History of The Ponte Dei Sospiri
- The Most Famous Prisoner
- Photography – Great Photo Motifs
- The Legend of The Kiss of Love Under The Bridge
The Bridge of Sighs was the direct link between the notorious lead chambers and the new prisons. After the accused had been tried in the courtrooms of the Doge’s Palace, they were taken to the dungeons or even to their place of execution amidst avoidably heart-rending sighs. Venice’s fine citizens were not confronted with the direct sight of the pi...
Visitors to Venice have the opportunity to view the Bridge of Sighs from the outside without paying an entrance fee. As already mentioned, either from the Ponte della Paglia (to the right of the Doge’s Palace), i.e. from St Mark’s Basin, or from the Ponte della Canonica. If you want to cross the bridge on foot and catch a glimpse of the outside thr...
While you can of course admire and photograph the Bridge of Sighs from the outside at any time of day or night, crossing the bridge is only possible during the opening hours of the Doge’s Palace. So from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a last admission at 5:00 pm. For more information, see my article Doge’s Palace Opening Hours.
There are almost always waiting times to enter the Doge’s Palace to walk across the Bridge of Sighs. However, this only applies to visitors who have not purchased online tickets in advance. Those who are in a hurry and just want to take the obligatory photo from a distance have to find their way through the crowds on the constantly crowded Ponte de...
The baroque bridge is eleven meters long and quite narrow, made of Istrian marble – a limestone that comes from the quarry in Vrsar. Even the Romans operated the quarry because the marble quarried was of very high quality. With its beautiful shine, the Bridge of Sighs also has a special attitude, which is not at all matched by its spartan interior....
Not very spectacular! Romantics prefer to stroll through the almost deserted St Mark’s Square in the evening. But it’s not far from the Ponte dei Sospiri, and if you want to, you can take a look at the famous bridge in the dark. The view from the Ponte Paglia, however, is probably more memorable for the gondolas splashing in the water in front of t...
Under the leadership of its powerful Doges, Venice became a wealthy great power. Not only did the Venetians control the entire Mediterranean region, they were also able to stage themselves in a triumphant manner in art and culture. However, anyone who violated the extremely strict rules of the maritime republic was sent to prison after a short tria...
The most notable prisoner who crossed the Bridge of Sighs was none other than the famous womanizer Casanova. He was born in Venice in 1725. In the course of his turbulent life, he ended up in the lead chambers of the Doge’s Palace, accused of blasphemy and sorcery. Before that, the judges of the Maritime Republic had sentenced him to imprisonment a...
After the Rialto Bridge, the Ponte dei Sospiri is certainly the most photographed bridge in Venice. The Bridge of Sighs spans a canal that is only eight meters wide. The typical photo is from the Ponte della Paglia. On the left is the Doge’s Palace, on the right is the New Prison, and in the middle is the bridge crossing. Every day hundreds of tour...
Let’s move on to the pinnacle of romance. Couples hoping for eternal love should kiss as they pass through the Bridge of Sighs on a Venetian gondola at sunset. Legend has it that two lovers will then stay together forever. The outcome is not certain, but it should definitely be worth a try. While traveling on the canal under the bridge, you can enj...
Sep 15, 2022 · The Bridge of Sighs, or Ponte dei Sospiri, is one of the most famous bridges in Venice, with an interesting history and a romantic legend behind it.
The fame of the Bridge of Sighs is linked to its history – it was in fact the passageway that prisoners crossed to access their prison cells – but also to the romantic legends that see it as the ‘bridge of love’ par excellence, as well as to the charm of its Baroque architecture.
Jan 26, 2023 · One of the most incredible landmarks in Venice is surely the Bridge of Sighs. It is world wide famous as a romantic spot, but also for its tragic history. We are going to dig more deeply into this famous bridge of Venice, discovering more about its history, its name and how to visit it.
