One of the landmarks of Venice, a small covered bridge — made from ordinary limestone, not marble, contrary to occasional claims — from the Doge's Palace to the neighboring building on the other side of a narrow canal. This other building is the New Prison, built like the bridge itself in the year 1600; the bridge derives its picturesque name from this circumstance. The machinery of dubious justice was housed in the Doge's Palace; as such, a person convicted of a crime less than capital would be led across the bridge, into the prison, and gaze his last for years or ever on Venice through the pierced stonework of the bridge's small windows, presumably sighing disconsolately. This is also the reason why the bridge is so thoroughly enclosed — simply to forestall escape.

Bizarrely, and presumably due to the name, the bridge presently has a particular reputation as a romantic landmark; from ones of despair the sighs have been transmuted by the noxious alchemy of tourism into those of love. One hopes that such persons as indulge in this claptrap are haunted by the vengeful ghosts of convicts past, &c.


192

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.