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Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) is an enclosed bridge 
constructed in white limestone that passes over the 
Rio di Palazzo, connecting the old city prison to the 
interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. Designed by 
Antonio Contino, the nephew of Antonio da Ponte who 
created the Rialto Bridge, the bridge was completed in 
1602.
The bridge’s romantic name is thought to refer to the 
sighs of convicts as they saw their last view of Venice 
before being taken to their prison cells. In reality, very 
little of the city could be seen through the stone grills 
covering the windows and the majority of prisoners at 
that time were small-time criminals. 
Bridge of Sighs
[  “I stood in Venice, on the
   Bridge of Sighs, A palace
   and a prison on each hand.” ] 
LordByron
BridgeofSighs