Description of the attraction
The Bridge of Sighs, whose name in Italian sounds like Ponte dei Sospiri, is perhaps one of the most famous landmarks in Venice. The bridge was built in 1602 by the architect Antonio Contino, whose uncle, by the way, was the author of another Venetian bridge - the Rialto. The indoor Ponte dei Sospiri is built of white limestone and has stone-lattice window openings. A graceful baroque structure connects the banks of the Palace Canal - Rio di Palazzo. On one of its banks stands the famous Doge's Palace, which once housed a courtroom, and on the opposite side there is a prison building. By the way, this building is considered the first prison in the world, built specifically for the detention of criminals.
According to the generally accepted interpretation, the name of the Bridge of Sighs comes from the sad sighs of the convicts who passed through the bridge in custody and cast their last glance at the beautiful Venice. It is interesting that this interpretation was proposed in the 19th century by the great English poet Lord Byron. In fact, by the beginning of the 17th century, when the bridge was built, the harsh times of the Inquisition and executions had already passed, and the prison cells were predominantly occupied by petty swindlers and swindlers. Moreover, because of the very stone lattices that frame the windows of the bridge, the view from it is not particularly spectacular.
Probably because of these inconsistencies, another version of the origin of the name of the Bridge of Sighs arose - according to her, these sighs did not belong to condemned people, but to lovers. And today there is a belief that if lovers kiss on a gondola, driving at sunset under Ponte dei Sospiri, their feelings will be destined to last forever.
The popularity of the Bridge of Sighs is so great that several structures of the same name have been built all over the world. For example, in English Oxford in 1914, a bridge was built, similar in size to Ponte dei Sospiri, and in shape to the Rialto Bridge. Cambridge also has its own Bridge of Sighs - it is, however, not very similar to the original. Lima, the capital of Peru, has the Puente de los Suspiros, which is considered one of the most romantic places in the city. Finally, a small copy of Ponte dei Sospiri exists in New York - this bridge connects the two buildings of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower.
