The Bridge of Sighs , besides known equally the Ponte dei Sospiri , is 1 of the most famous bridges of Venice. This curved , fully enclosed yoke is made of white limestone too has tiny rectangular windows covered alongside narrow lattice screens. The yoke was built betwixt 1600 too 1602 to connect the Doge's Palace alongside the newly established prison theater , the Prigioni Nuove , located across the canal Rio di Palazzo.
The yoke had a real specific purpose. It was used to atomic number 82 prisoners from the enquiry rooms at Doge's Palace to their cells inwards the Prigioni. Legend has it that equally convicted prisoners walked across the yoke to the prison theater to serve their sentences or to the execution sleeping room , they would grab a terminal glimpse of the exterior the world through the windows too sigh. Hence , the yoke is called the “Bridge of Sighs”.
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In reality though , the days of inquisitions too summary executions were over yesteryear the fourth dimension the yoke was built too the cells nether the palace roof were occupied generally yesteryear small-time criminals. In add-on , at that spot was non much that could last seen from the within of the yoke through the tight rock grills roofing the windows.
Today , the yoke is associated alongside a dissimilar legend , that if lovers osculation on a gondola at sunset nether the Bridge of Sighs , they volition last granted eternal dearest too bliss.
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The unimpressive views through the rock windows of the Bridge of Sighs. Photo credit: Kira Butler/Flickr
The unimpressive views through the rock windows of the Bridge of Sighs. Photo credit: Geoff Young/Flickr
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Sources: Wikipedia / A View on Cities / About.com