Bridge of Sighs
Last Updated (Tuesday, 18 November 2008 12:41) Written by cips Monday, 03 November 2008 14:50
Kind of monument: Political building
Location: Venice, Italy
Groundbraking: 1610
Year completed: 1610
Architectural style: Baroque style
Architect (main or first): Antonio Contino di Bernardino
Orderer: doge Marino Grimani
The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous bridge in Venice. It is completely made of white Istrian limestone. It was build in the beginning of the 17th century by the orderer of the current of Marino Grimani, that in this day held the office of doge, that was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice. His family’s coat of arms is well seen in the middle of the building.The bridge passes over Rio di Palazzo (a street, as all in Venice, that is actually a canal, made of water) and connects with a double passage the Doge’s Palace with the prison (called Prigioni Nove, the first building in the world built intentionally to became a prison).
Thorough this bridge, the captive waiting for their trial, reached the interrogation room within the Doge’s Palace. The law of the Republic of Venice was so severe, that people who came back to the prison will quite be sure to spend the rest of their life inside the penitentiary. Passing through the Bridge of Sighs, they could see for the last time the outside word, watching through the windows locked by stone bar. This is, following the tradition, the origin of the bridge’s name. The sighs, in fact, were the last noise that the captive produce leaving their freedom and taking for the last time the vision of outside.
The Bridge of Sighs is not long (less than 10 meters) and is close by the two building around it. For these reason, the it is only visible from two other bridges that cross the same “street”, Rio di Palazzo. To take the wonderful view of the Bridge of Sight you must be on the top of bridge della Canonica or bridge della Paglia. Otherwise you can see it only from a gondola.