Bridges, Venice

Favorite thing: Ponte dei sospiri( Bridge of Sighs) It was erected in the 1600's. and it connected the Doge's Prisons to the main Palace. It was called the 'Bridge of Sighs' because it was said that the condemned prisoners would sigh as they walked through,on the way to the executioner.

Favorite thing: Ponte di Rialto It took 3 years to build ( from 1588 until 1591) it was the only way to croos the Granc Canal by foot until the Accademia Bridge was built in 1855. The bridge is lined with many shops( Mostly touristy selling Murano glass,jewerly, and Carnival masks).

Fondest memory: check out some of the more famous bridges - behind me is the Bridge of Sighs - so called because prisoners who had to cross it to go to their death got their last glimpse of daylight before execution, ergo sighs of anguish and remorse were heard

Favorite thing: Walk over the Bridge of Sighs. It received its name in the 17th Century because prisoners would walk across this bridge toward their prison cells and see their beautiful Venice for the last time.

Fondest memory: Vedendo ' il ponticello di sighs'... collega il palazzo di espedienti con la prigione in cui Casanova proveniva incarcerated ma da quale ha reso ad una fuga fantastica.

Seeing the 'bridge of sighs'...It connects the Dodges Palace with the prison in which Casanova was incarcerated but from which he made a fantastic escape.

Favorite thing: The best view to enjoy the Ponte dei Sospiri is from the Ponte della Paglia (Straw Bridge), made from stone of Istria. The covered Bridge of Sighs is connecting the Palazzo Ducale with the Old Prison. The name of the famous bridge comes, as the legend tells, from the wails of the prisoners about to be led to the inquisitor.

Favorite thing: The district around the Ponte di Rialto is the oldest and livliest in town. Colorful and pictureque markets border the Canale Grande on the south side of the bridge.
After the wooden bridges, built in the 12th century, got destroyed more then once, by wearing away or sabotage, only around 1588 the solid stone bridge got constructed. One of the first wooden structures collapsed during a wedding ceremony of the marchese of Ferrara, by the weight of too many onlookers.

Favorite thing: See the Rialto Bridge. This is the most famous and spectacular of the bridges over the Grand Canal and is therefore something of a tourist magnet - some times you can hardly move for people, and getting a view off of the bridge can be almost impossible.
Later, in the evening, it's a lot quieter and the shops on the bridge close and the African 'bag sellers' move in and take up position at various points on the bridge.
As well as the shops that line the bridge itself, there are restaurants and hotels along the waterside here, and shops and markets in all of the surrounding streets.
The markets should not be missed (see later).