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Ponte dei Sospiri, Venice

(4,600+ reviews on the web)
Bridge
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." Use our Venice trip itinerary builder to visit Ponte dei Sospiri on your trip to Venice, and learn what else travelers and our writers recommend seeing nearby.
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Reviews
TripAdvisor
  • Who previously went over the bridge, had nothing good to expect. One feels that today still on the way to the prison...
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  • Well worth a stop to watch the stunning scenery that can be seen towards the bridge. Not to be missed.
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  • The Bridge of Sighs passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was built in 1600 and was designed by Antonio Contin...  more »
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Google
  • We visited mid-March and it wasn't too crowded. If you'd like a different angle of the bridge than the straight on angle that everyone gets from the adjacent bridge, there is a small cement platform right next to the canal. We went down here and took photos that were away from everyone else. Also, if you get a chance to see the bridge at night, they have a light that shines on it and makes for a magical moment.
  • Famous bridge with lot of legends about its history. I'm not sure that this is the greatest bridge in Venice, but you definitely should to see it to get your own opinion
  • sad story about the bridge (used to connect tribunal with old jail) but very attractive
  • Would be easy to walk right by it without noticing, if you weren't looking for it. It isn't all that impressive, I think it's famous for its history. It is visible from a pedestrian bridge outside of the palace and St. Mark's square. A gondola ride will take you under it, but these are very expensive, something like €80 an hour.
  • Despite being one of the most famous bridges in Venice, for me it wasn't the most beautiful. There were too many people for the selfie. It's worth seeing it, though.
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