Sigh…Bridging A Palace And A Prison

Bridge of Sighs in Venice was designed by Antonio Contino and was built at the beginning of the 17th century. Spanning the Rio di Palazzo (Palace River), the bridge was intended to connect the Old Prison and interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison, which was situated directly across the river.

There are a few theories as to how the bridge got its name. The first one involves the prisoners that walked across the bridge on their way to the executioner. The prisoners would “sigh” as they crossed the bridge, probably catching their last glimpse of the outside world, many believed. Even though by the time the bridge was built summary executions at the hands of the inquisitors had ceased, many prisoners probably did cross the bridge and may have not seen freedom again, at least not for many years. Another story says that if a couple kisses under the bridge while drifting below on a gondola at sunset, they will enjoy eternal love. Thus, the “sighs” are said to come from overwhelmed lovers.

The Bridge of Sighs is a beautiful sight, stretching high above the canal. It is generally known as one of the finest examples of bridge architecture in the world. It is a must visit while you are on a holiday in Italy. It is suggested that you hire a car to take you to Venice after you explore the other tourist attractions of Italy. Car rental Italy provides cars on rental with economy packages on offer, especially for the tourists. car-rental-italy provides economical car rental services to tourists. You can easily look up for their spectrum of packages in one place and easily compare them to find the best package for cheap car rentals in Italy for a pleasurable trip through the place.

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