A Kiss Under The Bridge Of Sighs

The magnificent city of Venice is almost overwhelming in its beauty and romantic aura. Over 400 bridges cross the famous canals of Venice. The Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge), completed in 1591, is the oldest of the bridges that allow the people of “The Floating City” to traverse the 150 canals. The bridges are beautiful, blending unforgettably with the atmosphere of an architecturally magnificent city. But one bridge promises more than a way across the canals. The  Bridge of Sighs (Ponte Sdei Sospiri) carries with it an amazing legend. It is said that if you kiss under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset, just as the bells of St. Mark’s Campanile ring, your future is blessed with eternal love.

A Non-Romantic History

The Bridge of Sighs crosses the Rio di Palazzo and connects the Dogi’s Palace to the prisons on the opposite side of the late 16th century. When a prisoner entered the Palace for justice, the man’s fate was sealed. After sentencing, the prisoner would be sent on a disheartening walk across the Bridge of Sighs to serve his term in the dark, dank, inescapable prison. According to legend, the disconsolate prisoners would deeply sigh as they gazed upon Venice and freedom for the last time. The Bridge of Sighs was thus associated with sadness, despair, and heartache.

The Bridge of Sighs opened in 1603. It quickly became a poignant symbol of Venice’s architectural beauty and a bittersweet reminder of the cruelty of life. In 1812, Lord Byron wrote: “I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs; a palace and a prison on each hand.”

A Romantic Legend: A Kiss Under The Bridge Of Sighs

Over the centuries, The Bridge Of Sighs developed a deeply romantic legend. I’ve been unable to track down where the myth originated, but its spell is powerful. If any of my eagle-eyed readers can offer insight into the legend, please let me know! The famous lover Casanova crossed the Bridge, which might be part of the answer to the puzzle.

The legend says a couple that kisses under the bridge while drifting below on a gondola at sunset will enjoy eternal love. Perhaps that is another explanation for the sighs! Today, as sunset approaches in Venice, you will see gondolas lined up for a precious spot, waiting for the bells to toll and the couples aboard to kiss before another gondola moves into position!

In The Movies

The Bridge Of Sighs appears in many films set in Venice. Among the most notable movies using it as a backdrop was the James Bond Classic “To Russia With Love.”

My favorite is “A Little Romance” (1979) Here is a wonderful explanation of the film.

In this beautiful scene, charming rogue Laurence Olivier meets two teens(including Diane Lane) in the thrall of first love. Olivier explains the romantic legend of a kiss Under The Bridge of Sighs. The climactic moment is as lovely as you would hope. Click here to see it.

In America

Several cities have their own version of the Bridge Of Sighs. If you visit the Italian-themed Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, you can cross a modern version. The Harry Potter books reference the Oxford version. Perhaps the most famous Bridge of Sighs in America is the span connecting the Tombs prison and the Manhattan Criminal Courts building. One of the most famous prisoners to cross this lonely bridge was Harry K. Thaw, the man who murdered Stanford White over the honor of Evelyn Nesbit in the “Crime Of The Century.” Click here to read about why reporters gathered every day to watch him!

A Kiss Under The Bridge Of Sighs

While the legend is dubious, it is also impossibly romantic. Visit Venice, and you will be drawn to it!