The Ponte dei Sospiri – literally “Bridge of Sighs” – is a Baroque bridge that by crossing the Rio di Palazzo once connected Palazzo Ducale to the prisons. Today it is one of Venice’s most romantic venues.

A misconception is that the ‘sighs’ from which its name derives are those of the lovers. In truth, they were those of the condemned prisoners, which had to cross the bridge as they were led down to the cells. The inside can be accessed on a visit to Palazzo Ducale.