Bridge of Sighs, Venice, Italy

A sight to sigh at

The name Bridge of Sighs comes from the supposed woeful sounds of convicts as they looked out at the city of Venice, sneaking one last peek before being marched to their fate in the New Prisons. In truth, the 17th-century jailhouse mainly held petty crooks—so for most perps who made the walk, the view wasn't final. Indeed, their sighs might have been of relief at being led away from the ornate building on our left. The Doge's Palace, today one of Venice's biggest tourist draws, was once home to dungeonlike cells that made the New Prisons seem like a canal-side resort.