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The Rialto Bridge
It is the oldest bridge that spans the Grand Canal of Venice. And no trip to this city is complete without walking on the majestic ‘Ponte di Rialto’ or Rialto Bridge. A view of Venice. It has been immortalized by artists like Canaletto. And for all you Shakespeare buffs, it even finds a mention in The Merchant of Venice, when Shylock asks, “What news on the Rialto?” It is the oldest bridge that spans the Grand Canal of Venice. While the bridge we see now had been around since 1591, the original pontoon bridge came up as early as 1173. Since then, it suffered damage in a fire and collapsed…
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The Bridge of Sighs
Popular myth suggests it was the last view of Venice that convicts would see before they were led to their dungeons. The Bridge of Sighs is the only covered limestone bridge in Venice. However much one may wish for it to be true, in some weird sort of way, it isn’t. It is actually from the pen of Lord Bryon, who, perhaps high on Laudanum, let his imagination run wild while writing ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ and decided to interpret the Italian ‘Ponte dei sospiri’ to suit his purpose. And thus the quote, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace, and prison on each hand.” Thankfully, the…
