Bridge of Sighs
Ponte dei Sospiri
The covered stone bridge between the Doge’s Palace and the prisons, built in 1600.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The enclosed bridge of white limestone links the courtrooms of the Doge’s Palace with the New Prisons across the Rio di Palazzo. It was built around 1600.
Its name comes from Lord Byron and the romantics: the sighs are said to be those of prisoners taking a last look at Venice through its little barred windows. Visit it in 3D ›
More in Venice
Piazza San MarcoThe only square in Venice called a piazza, ringed by arcades and opening onto the lagoon.
St Mark’s BasilicaBuilt for the relics of Saint Mark, covered inside with golden mosaics.
Doge’s PalaceThe pink and white Gothic palace from which the doges ruled the Republic of Venice.
Campanile di San MarcoThe bell tower of St Mark’s, which fell down in 1902 and was rebuilt “where it was, as it was”.
Rialto BridgeThe stone bridge of 1591 over the Grand Canal, with shops along its arch.
Grand CanalThe great S-shaped waterway through the middle of Venice, lined with palaces.
MercerieThe chain of narrow shopping lanes from St Mark’s to the Rialto, the race route in the game.
La FeniceVenice’s opera house, which has risen from its ashes more than once, as its name promises.
GondolaThe long black boat of Venice, rowed standing up with a single oar.
VaporettoThe water bus of Venice, chugging up and down the Grand Canal from stop to stop.
CarnivalTwo weeks of masks and costumes before Lent, filling the squares of Venice.
Acqua altaThe high tides that flood St Mark’s Square, now held back by the MOSE barriers.