Venice's Bridge of Sighs
by Carla Parris
Title
Venice's Bridge of Sighs
Artist
Carla Parris
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The enclosed bridge is made of white limestone and has windows with stone bars. lt was built in 1602.
The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. 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.
In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals. In addition, little could be seen from inside the bridge due to the stone grills covering the windows.
A local legend says that lovers will be granted eternal love and bliss if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the Bridge Of Sighs. Perhaps some of the gondalas seen here in the late afternoon cool shadows of the canal are awaiting sunset!
This bird's-eye view of the bridge, and one of the smaller canals off the Grand Canal passing under the pedestrian bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, was taken from the 14th deck of a cruise ship as we enjoyed a spectacular sale down the Grand Canal, complete with Andrea Bocelli's "Time to Say Goodbye" playing over the loudspeaker system. The views were amazing, as we passed by St. Marks Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and other Venice landmarks, and as we were often able to see all the way through canals to the body of water beyond. It was an experience I will never forget. I have several other images from that sail also available here on my FAA site.
Sailing on the Grand Canal in any vessel is an experience! There are a multitude of different kinds of boats, and they are going in all directions. There are gondolas, water taxis, vaporetti, and even cruise ships on the same stretches of water! The water taxis not only go up and down the Grand Canal, but they traverse from side to side, going across all the traffic going up and down. I have been on the Grand Canal in a cruise ship, a water taxi, and a gondola, and each was a memorable experience!!
Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Uploaded
June 16th, 2012
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Comments (125)
Judy Vincent
This image is being featured in the “Landscape and Landmark Photography” group – one of the most active groups on Fine Art America featuring the best landscape photographers in the world! Congratulations on your excellent work!
Jean OKeeffe Macro Abundance Art
Congratulations for the feature of your artwork on the homepage of Greeting Cards For All Occasions 08-27-15!!
Connie Handscomb
Carla, I love Venice! ... & your image is superb; you've captured this bridge .. {& the hordes of visitors!} .. in the most wonderful way :))
John Bailey
Congratulations on being featured in the Fine Art America Group "Images That Excite You!"