Bridge of Sighs

Bridge of Sighs

This enclosed white stone bridge, with small windows, offers a poignant view and symbolizes Venice's judicial past, attracting many tourists.
The Bridge of Sighs links the Doge’s Palace with the former prisons across the Rio di Palazzo and was built in 1600 to a design by Antonio Contino. Enclosed in white stone and pierced by small windows, it carries with it the legend of prisoners taking a last look at Venice before confinement. Whatever the romance of the name, it remains an eloquent symbol of the city’s judicial history. Its compact elegance has made it one of Venice’s most familiar monuments.