The Bridge of Sighs, known as 'Ponte dei Sospiri' in Italian, is a historic bridge in Venice, Italy, connecting the Doge's Palace to the New Prison. It's made of white limestone and has a covered passageway that was once used by prisoners going to their cells after sentencing at the palace.
It is said that the name comes from the sighs of prisoners who would exhale upon seeing their last view of beautiful Venice through the bridge's small windows before being taken down to their cells, although this romantic notion is a later addition to the bridge's lore.
The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1600 and designed by architect Antonio Contino. It is over 400 years old.
Tourists cannot walk across the Bridge of Sighs itself; rather, they can view it from outside or walk through it as part of a guided tour of the Doge's Palace and prisons, which includes a pass through the internal corridor.
The Bridge of Sighs can be best viewed from the outside on a gondola ride or from the nearby Ponte della Paglia, which offers a perfect vantage point for photography. To experience the bridge from the inside, you must be part of the Doge's Palace tour.
Seeing the Bridge of Sighs from the outside is free. However, if you wish to walk through the bridge's interior passageway during a visit to the Doge's Palace and prisons, you would have to pay for the entrance to the palace which grants access to various tours.
The best time to visit the Bridge of Sighs is during the off-peak tourist season, typically in the spring (April-May) or fall (September-October), to avoid the crowds. Early mornings or evenings can also be quieter times to appreciate its beauty.
One popular legend, particularly among romantics, is that if a couple kisses under the bridge while on a gondola at sunset, they will be granted eternal love. This tale is a modern romantic notion rather than a historic fact.
While you can see the Bridge from the outside in a few minutes, a full tour of the Doge's Palace including the bridge's interior typically takes about 1-2 hours, depending on the length of the tour and the time spent exploring the museum.
Photography of the exterior of the Bridge of Sighs is allowed and encouraged. However, inside the Doge's Palace and the enclosed bridge, photography rules may vary, and flash photography is generally prohibited to protect the artifacts.
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