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Ponte dei Sospiri
An enclosed bridge over the Rio di Palazzo, Ponte dei Sospiri connects the new prison with the doge's Palace. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the view from the bridge was the last time condemned convicts saw Venice. Lord Byron wrote that the criminals would sigh at their last sight of the city. However, Lord Byron exercised a bit of literary license; the grating on the bridge openings would have made it difficult for the convicts to see anything. A more modern legend has it that lovers will be granted eternal bliss if they kiss on a gondola under the bridge at sunset while the bells of St. Mark's Cathedral toll. This served as a plotline for the film "A Little Romance." Using our world travel planner, Venice attractions like Ponte dei Sospiri can form part of a personalized travel itinerary.
Tours to Ponte dei Sospiri
Ponte dei Sospiri reviews
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One of the iconic bridges of city alongside Rialto, with intricate designs. It was named because it's the prisoners' last view of Venice before being taken to prison. Very interesting. During my...
One of the iconic bridges of city alongside Rialto, with intricate designs. It was named because it's the prisoners' last view of Venice before being taken to prison. Very interesting. During my... more »
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The “Bridge of Last Sighs” was a connection from Doge’s Palace to the old prison. The bridge has an interesting design and a nice place for pictures.
The “Bridge of Last Sighs” was a connection from Doge’s Palace to the old prison. The bridge has an interesting design and a nice place for pictures. more »
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We unexpectedly walked through the Bridge of Sighs as we ventured through Doge's Palace (you're better off buying the city pass before you arrive or just as you arrive in Venice or you'll end up probably spending more than it's worth getting into one place). Walking through it was so much better than viewing it from the outside in my opinion as you were able to get some real perspective on what your last views would have been like back then and inside the darkness of the bridge you got a sense of the doom that criminals must have felt walking through it themselves...
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Last time I visited Venice, I only ventured and took pictures of the bridge from the outside. Though, my recent visit with a guided tour, unexpectedly I was led to the inside and I walked across the bridge! It was brief but it was truly something else when you can see what's inside and learn about the history behind it. I would recommend joining a tour if you want to access the inside of the bridge. (July 2022)
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