The Palazzo Ducale Prison is known to most visitors by one of its other names, the Bridge of Sighs, or Ponte dei Sospiri in Italian. It is an enclosed limestone bridge in Venice, Italy, linking the New Prison with the interrogation rooms inside the Doge's Palace. Its address is Ponte dei Sospiri, 30122 Venice.
What to expect
The bridge is a compact, enclosed walkway, and most people come to see it from the outside and to picture its passage through the palace complex. Its name was popularised by the poet Lord Byron in the nineteenth century, and the bridge has been a familiar image of the city ever since. Because it is part of a wider site, many visitors combine it with a look at the palace itself.
Planning your visit
- Location: Venice, in the Veneto region of northern Italy.
- Kind of visit: a short, historic monument stop, best paired with time in the surrounding palace and square.
- Contact: +39 041 271 5911.
Visitors who want to know more about access, tickets or current arrangements are best served by calling the number above before setting out. The bridge sits close to the heart of the old city, so it is easy to fit into a walk through the historic centre, with the lagoon and its many canals close at hand.
