Ponte Dei Sospiri Editorial Image

The Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) in Venice, Italy. Built in 1602 by Antonio Contino is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison (piombi) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The bridge name, given by Lord Byron in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells.