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The Bridge of Sighs between the Doge's Palace and the prisons

Doge's Palace prisons and the Bridge of Sighs

You don't need a special ticket for the Bridge of Sighs: the standard route crosses it into the New Prisons, built in the 17th century. The older cells under the roof, the Piombi, where Casanova was held, are only on the guided Secret Itineraries.

An independent guide, not the official website of the Doge's Palace.

Photo: Andrek02, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

On this page
  1. The Bridge of Sighs
  2. The New Prisons
  3. The Piombi and Casanova
  4. Frequently asked questions

The Bridge of Sighs

From the Sala del Magistrato alle Leggi a small staircase leads down into a narrow corridor: one of the two passages of the Bridge of Sighs. According to MUVE the bridge was built in 1614 to link the palace to the New Prisons; Wikipedia says "soon after 1600" and credits the design to Antonio Contin. The English name comes from Lord Byron.

The view of the lagoon through the windows of the Bridge of Sighs
The lagoon through the windows of the Bridge of Sighs. Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The New Prisons

Across the bridge you enter the New Prisons. After the first floor you can go straight back over the bridge, or carry on to the two lower levels and the prison courtyard.

The inner courtyard of the New Prisons with its well
The inner courtyard of the New Prisons. Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The prisons are not accessible to visitors with mobility problems.

The Piombi and Casanova

The Piombi are cells directly under the lead roof of the palace; according to Wikipedia they were built in 1591. Wikipedia also notes that Giacomo Casanova was held here and, in his memoirs, describes escaping through the roof, going back into the palace and leaving through the Porta della Carta.

The Piombi, the Pozzi cells and the torture chamber are not on the standard route. You see them on the guided Secret Itineraries tour, which includes both cells occupied by Casanova, now reconstructed: €40, about 75 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bridge of Sighs included in the Doge's Palace ticket?

Yes. The standard route crosses the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons.

Can you see Casanova's cell?

Only on the Secret Itineraries guided tour, which includes both of his cells, now reconstructed.

When was the Bridge of Sighs built?

In 1614 according to the Doge's Palace; Wikipedia says soon after 1600.

Why is it called the Bridge of Sighs?

The English name was given by Lord Byron, as a translation of the Italian Ponte dei Sospiri.

Sources

Doge's Palace from €35 on Tiqets
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