Bridge of Sighs

Ponte dei Sospiri

A closed white limestone bridge connecting the Doge’s Palace and the prison. Legend says prisoners sighed their last glance at the lagoon as they crossed, and that couples who kiss under the bridge in a gondola will love each other forever. It is Venice’s most photogenic bridge.

The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1600 and designed by Antonio Contino, an architect of the Doge’s Palace. It is made of Istrian stone and has a Baroque style. It spans the Rio di Palazzo and connects the Doge’s Palace interrogation rooms with the New Prison. The bridge is enclosed, with only two small windows that have stone grilles. Its name comes from a 19th-century poem by Byron. According to legend, prisoners who had been sentenced were taken across this bridge to their cells, and they sighed as they caught a last glimpse of the lagoon through the small windows. Another legend says that couples who kiss beneath the bridge in a gondola at sunset will be bound together forever.

Viewing options: (1) From outside, the best spot is the Ponte della Paglia (Straw Bridge), on the east side of Piazzetta San Marco. From the lagoon side, you can photograph the full bridge along with the two buildings behind it. This is the most crowded photo spot in Venice. (2) From inside, you walk across the bridge when you enter the Doge’s Palace. You can look out through the grilled windows as you walk to the prison. (3) Take a gondola under the bridge. Gondolas from St Mark’s Pier almost always pass along this waterway. The Doge’s Palace combined ticket costs 30 euros, and viewing from outside is free. Getting there: take the Vaporetto to San Zaccaria, and the Ponte della Paglia is right by the landing stage. Tips: The Straw Bridge gets very crowded, so don’t stay at the railing for long. Arrive before 7 a.m. to photograph the bridge without people. Gondolas are dense around the bridge, so watch your angles when you shoot.

Bridge of Sighs

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