Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs

Introduction   The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1603 and earned its name due to the sighs of prisoners being led across it. It links the Doge's Palace with the Venice prison and was the inevitable passage for the court to send death-row inmates to prison in the past. The bridge features an early Baroque architectural style, resembling a house with a domed roof overhead and is very tightly sealed, having only two small windows facing the canal.

When prisoners were sentenced in the Doge's Palace, those condemned to harsh penalties were taken to the dungeons. As they crossed this airtight bridge, they could only catch a glimpse of the blue sky through the small windows—having lost their freedom, they couldn’t help but sigh.

There’s also an interesting legend that a death-row prisoner once saw his former lover embracing a new sweetheart on the other side of the bridge and sighed deeply. Ever since, the Bridge of Sighs has become a symbol of love, with the belief that couples who kiss under the bridge will stay together forever. The film *A Little Romance* was shot here.   Transportation   Accessible via the Doge's Palace; most gondola tours pass by this bridge.

Venice, Italy