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Ponte dei Sospiri, Venice

4.3
#6 of 72 in Historic Sites in Venice
Bridge Historic Site
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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Ponte dei Sospiri Tours
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $63
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Ticket and Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $59
Venice Super Saver: Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace and St Mark’s Basilica Tours plus Venice Walking Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $96
Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $78
Venice Day Trip from Milan BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $156
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $66
Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour for Kids and Families BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $35
Venice Day Trip from Ljubljana BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $107
Private Tour: Venice Day Trip from Florence BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $246
Skip the Line Venice Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Tour BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $66
Venice Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $89
Day Trip to Venice from Florence BOOK WITH VIATOR FROM $120
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Ponte dei Sospiri Reviews
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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
5,171 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • August 18, 2017
    If you can do the photo before the crowd, why not. But Venice is full of less frequent magnificent bridges. Better move away of St. Mark to find less frequent treasures.
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  • August 18, 2017
    If you know history and because the name bridge of Sighs, you must go and see the step from building a jail, where he was the last time is the saw prisoner.
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  • August 18, 2017
    You can view the Bridge of Sighs from the main thoroughfare alongside the lagoon and landing stages. It is heavily congested with tourists however, all vying for the same photo opportunity. Persevere ...  more »
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Google
  • Google is asking me to review a beautiful historic structure that has inspired artists, poets and writers over many hundreds of years. I'll give it four stars, but I'm pretty sure my rating won't cause the 30 million or so visitors a year to change their plans. Nor should it.
  • A wonderful history around suspects who were not prosecuted as they were deemed innocent and how, when released, they would take a sigh of relief at the sight of Venice again.
  • My visit was with a guided tour so that could've lead to it being a good experience because the guide explained its history. If you don't have a guide I suggest you learn a little before you go there. There isn't anything to do there but walk along the passage so unless you have an idea of what you're looking at it may not be very interesting. It was a bit congested because of the number of visitors and it has a somewhat narrow passageway.
  • Absolutely stunning! Everywhere you turn is a postcard! The food is amazing and service is impeccable! Mosimo and Lucia treat you like family!! Fairy tale!!
  • Quite a non event really. The architecture is, like most in Venice, impressive. Buy it's not anything special. The special aspect is how it got it's name.
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Save money and avoid tourist crowds by booking your accommodation outside the historical center of Venice. Central Venice is full of picturesque canals and narrow lanes, but it is also extremely noisy and hectic throughout the day and late into the night. You can explore the ancient city's charms at your own pace by staying at a comfortable B&B or small hotel located in the city's residential suburbs. To stay close to the finest beaches and restaurants, check into a hotel on the island of Lido, the city's famous seaside resort.
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