Ponte dei Sospiri
Ponte dei Sospiri
4.5
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 7:00 PM
About
This historic bridge connects the Doge's Palace with its prisons and was named for the condemned prisoners who crossed it to meet their executioners.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
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Neighbourhood: San Marco
The most famous sestiere (district) in Venice has one of the world's most famous squares, St. Mark's (Piazza San Marco). Anchored on one end by the basilica, clustered around it are restaurants, museums, shops, orchestras playing in the square, pigeons, the grand pink Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the soaring campanile bell tower, an astrological clock tower, plus gorgeous cafes and restaurants like Florian and Quadri. Piazza San Marco is beloved by Venetians themselves. They book a table anytime, which offers a buffer from the fray. This grand outdoor drawing room attracts Venetians for a stroll too, especially late in the afternoon when the hoards of daytrippers thin out. It's simply a grand place to meet.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
7,155 reviews
Excellent
3,390
Very good
2,571
Average
1,052
Poor
108
Terrible
34
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Ahmet A
16 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Nice please with beautiful buildings. We send on November so wether was perfect not boiling hot and not cold. Also not too much people around. Nice time and place in time to enjoy the city holiday.
Written 13 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Purwitanto
Sengata, Indonesia2,732 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Ponte dei sospiri or bridge of sighs in Venice is part of the Doge's palace. We only saw the outside. To enter or pass through, you must buy a ticket to enter the Doge's palace. We didn't have enough time in Venice to enter the Doge's palace. So we saw it from 2 sides, one side at the back of the San Marco basilica and the other side at the estuary close to the water bus port. Quite interesting, especially the story about his name. It was named so because according to the story the prisoners sighed as they crossed this bridge and looked out the window at the city of Venice that they might never see again.
The bridge itself is not big but its shape is quite unique and is between 2 buildings: the Doge's palace and a building that was once a prison.
The bridge itself is not big but its shape is quite unique and is between 2 buildings: the Doge's palace and a building that was once a prison.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
on_the_go_98765
Tucson20,581 contributions
Jul 2022
Maybe this should be called the Bridge of Sorrows. It is the connection between the Doge's Interrogation Room (doesn't that just give you the shudders?) and the prison. It's a a wonder any prisoner had enough energy left to even sigh as they passed across.
It was built in 1602 so that puts 620 years worth of candles on its birthday cake.
If the story weren't so tragic (prisoner crossing bridge), it would be a really beautiful reminder of Old Venice history. But it really is a beauty. It is an ornate covered bridge with enclosed portals for viewing (one last look before the end) and it sits upon a curved support arch over the canal. The span is adorned with 11 heads, 5 human ones on either side of the Lion (of Venice) in the center.
The faces are either grim, sad, or angry (except for one who looks happy) and the belief is that this is meant to scare away evil spirits. The happy looking one could be the bridge's guardian. Looks also like 2 images of Neptune flank the arch span.
Such was life 600+ years ago.
It was built in 1602 so that puts 620 years worth of candles on its birthday cake.
If the story weren't so tragic (prisoner crossing bridge), it would be a really beautiful reminder of Old Venice history. But it really is a beauty. It is an ornate covered bridge with enclosed portals for viewing (one last look before the end) and it sits upon a curved support arch over the canal. The span is adorned with 11 heads, 5 human ones on either side of the Lion (of Venice) in the center.
The faces are either grim, sad, or angry (except for one who looks happy) and the belief is that this is meant to scare away evil spirits. The happy looking one could be the bridge's guardian. Looks also like 2 images of Neptune flank the arch span.
Such was life 600+ years ago.
Written 14 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
courtney9384
Washington DC, DC402 contributions
Dec 2021
Very close to Piazza San Marco, so it's worth the short walk to see. Lots of tourists will be stopped on the adjacent foot bridge to take photos. I believe you can cross through the Ponte dei Sospiri if you purchase an additional ticket when you tour the Doge's Palace.
Written 1 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luac84
Brighton, UK564 contributions
Apr 2022
Walking in Venice we came across the Bridge of Sighs...
The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri, Venetian: Ponte de i Sospiri) is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was designed by Antonio Contino, whose uncle Antonio da Ponte designed the Rialto Bridge, and it was built in 1600.
Great photo opportunities, make sure you visit Doges Palace where you are able to cross inside the bridge to see the same view the prisoners would of got of the last view of Venice..
The Bridge of Sighs (Italian: Ponte dei Sospiri, Venetian: Ponte de i Sospiri) is a bridge in Venice, Italy. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone, has windows with stone bars, passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. It was designed by Antonio Contino, whose uncle Antonio da Ponte designed the Rialto Bridge, and it was built in 1600.
Great photo opportunities, make sure you visit Doges Palace where you are able to cross inside the bridge to see the same view the prisoners would of got of the last view of Venice..
Written 20 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,829 contributions
Sept 2021
This is a small (11m in length) stone bridge enclosed between the Doge's palace and prison. Perhaps mystified by Lord Byron during the 19th century, who named it the bridge of Sighs (prisoners taken across would catch a last glimpse of Venice and sigh before their execution). Still in very could shape considering it was built in 1600.
Written 12 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beatriz M
Düsseldorf, Germany5,677 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The bridge is famous however you can only access it when going inside Doge Palace. And I must say, I was kinda disappointed as the bridge is all covered up when you are walking on it, there is not Good opportunity to take pictures from outside unless you use a lot of zoom and put your lense through the small holes. It is better to view it from outside when walking towards one of the vaporretto stops in S Marco S Zaccaria.
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JamiroAscoli
San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy1,604 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My trip to Venice
The Bridge of Sighs is a Baroque-style covered bridge in Venice, located next to the Doge's Palace. It connects the Doge's Palace to the New Prisons. Built in 1600, its name derives from the tradition according to which prisoners would sigh while watching their last view of the Venice lagoon as they were led from the courts of justice to prisons, from which they would probably never leave. In front, the lagoon of Piazza San Marco embodies a harmonious fusion between nature and culture, offering a unique landscape in the world that has inspired artists, poets and travelers for centuries.
The Bridge of Sighs is a Baroque-style covered bridge in Venice, located next to the Doge's Palace. It connects the Doge's Palace to the New Prisons. Built in 1600, its name derives from the tradition according to which prisoners would sigh while watching their last view of the Venice lagoon as they were led from the courts of justice to prisons, from which they would probably never leave. In front, the lagoon of Piazza San Marco embodies a harmonious fusion between nature and culture, offering a unique landscape in the world that has inspired artists, poets and travelers for centuries.
Written 14 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tony b
5,208 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
It is one of the most famous bridges in the city.
Called "of sighs" because from there (what remains of the prison is clearly visible to the naked eye!) the prisoners passed by and were taken to the gallows amid understandable groans of pain.
Always crowded, you have to queue for a selfie.
It is a symbolic place of the city that smells of history and culture!
Called "of sighs" because from there (what remains of the prison is clearly visible to the naked eye!) the prisoners passed by and were taken to the gallows amid understandable groans of pain.
Always crowded, you have to queue for a selfie.
It is a symbolic place of the city that smells of history and culture!
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sokolalene
Kyiv, Ukraine2,516 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
I was once lucky enough to sail under this bridge on a gondola with a glass of prosecco in my hand. This time I saw it from a completely different angle - my hotel’s boat pier with a cute green garden overlooked this canal. So I just went out and looked at the Bridge of Sighs and the gondolas floating under it and past me. I also took photographs with the bas-relief, and then I saw that it was one of the most postcard and promoted photographs of Venice, but it was nice that I saw this stunning angle myself. But during my visit to the Doge’s Palace, I didn’t get to the bridge itself - I don’t know, or I missed it by accident in the twilight as I was there in the evening, or it is now closed, since the palace is undergoing a large-scale restoration.
Written 11 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the only way to view the bridge of sighs through a Doge's palace ticket/tour?
Written 19 August 2019
No, you can see it from the bridge, between the palace and the old jail. It is unremarkable from the inside except for the fact that the bridge windows may have been the last glimpse of freedom for the convicted, who crossed that enclosed bridge on their way to the jail. Gondolas go under the bridge as well.
Written 19 August 2019
My companion really wants to go UNDERNEATH the Bridge of Sighs in either a gondola or a small boat...any suggestions as to who to book with? We don't really need someone who sings but it would be cool to also be taken through the off the beaten path canals...I'd consider a combination thing with maybe the Doges Palace and St. Marks but we'd want it to not be more than about 2 1/2 hours total...any suggestions for an authentic and reasonably priced experience for us? I speak fluent Italian but haven't been to Venice in 35 years! My friend is brand new to Italy. Thanks, Diana
Written 27 August 2018
Just across the road from the steps that you stand on to see the bridge of sighs near to the water taxi station you will see the gondolas they are good
Written 11 January 2019
Correction to my Review. There is no method for revising a Review once it has been published, so am adding this note.
Which is the Bridge of Sighs? The bridge in my photo? NO. My mistake. The Bridge of Sighs is part of the jail in the Doges' Palace that I was standing in when I took the photo looking toward that small bridge.
I was still jet lagged when I posted that Review. Regards, Peter K, Toronto
Written 7 June 2017
Can't see your picture however, the bridge of sighs is just a corridor from one building to another. You can see this passage built of limestone from the following bridges....Ponte Canonica (to the north) & Ponte Della Paglia (this is the more famous view to the south).
Written 7 June 2017
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