A few websites state that it was Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe of Faust fame who coined the phrase! In 1786-88 he made a journey to Italy, which inspired his play IPHIGENIE AUF TAURIS, and RÖMISHE ELEGIEN, sensuous poems relating partly to Christiane Vulpius, who became Goethe's mistress in 1789.
But getting back to Venice. It is said that as the prisoners left their trials at the Doge's Palace they looked back through a tiny window at the gondola harbour of Venice and they sighed.
It would be many years for many and an eternity for others who might never return and see that beloved city again. Hence the name of that tiny 'Bridge of Sighs.'
When I left Venice, I looked back and sighed. Leaving Venice is like leaving a beloved friend and I always dream of returning one day. They say, "See Naples and die." I say "See Venice and sigh."
Wrote this when I was there a few years ago.
She gazed in my eyes, on the bridge of sighs
In Venice, we fell in love.
It was our last chance to find romance...
But the next day, we said our goodbyes.
On the bridge of sighs, we said our goodbyes,
In Venice, we parted ways.
We'd had our chance to find romance...
Now, all that's left are tears in our eyes.
