This bridge was built before 1880 A.D. and is quite different from all others bridges of this region. That is because its stones are larger and much better crafted. They say that the builders took those stones from an important nearby archeological site (Kastri) that is still researched and excavated.
It has one arch that opens to 11.50 meters and has a height of 7.50 meters. The bridge’s total length is 20 meters and its width 3.50 meters.
Its name means “The bridge of the blind man” and the legend says that a blind man was murdered around this bridge. Another legend refers that this bridge had a guard who was tolling the passers-by and the toll was one grossi (currency that started circulating around 1690 A.D.).
It is also known as Nidrouzi bridge, Alatopetra bridge, Prosvoro bridge and also as just Stone bridge.
You can visit this magnificent bridge by taking a 3 km path from Alatopetra village.
I wanted to show you another stone bridge, which is also very interesting and it is located in Bosnia and Hercegovina, close to Sarajevo - Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge. The river Drina has amazing colours and I’m sure it’s a good place to take photos. Do you like to take photos of bridges?
Have you been in London? Here is a photo of Tower bridge, but this one is more modern. Do you like more the ancient stone bridges?
Well, then you are going to like the bridge that I showed you in Bosnia and Hercegovina. It is actually an ancient historical bridge which was built in 1577 by the architect Mimar Sinan on the order of Mehmed Pasa Sokolovic who was a Grand Vizier at that time.
This bridge is on the UNESCO heritage list. Did you know that there is a book called “The Bridge of the Drina” written by the writer Ivo Andric. If you like historical books I think you will like this one.
@KatyaL thanks about the book, will research about that.
Most of our old bridges were also built during the Ottoman years, funded by local or grant vizieres and built be Greek stone masters (called Mastoroi in Greek). People that never studied engineering or mechanics but used their mind and experience and finally managed to build masterpieces of folk art and technique. They had even developed their own language (called Koudaritika), a secret, encoded dialect so the Ottomans could not understand them and steal their building secrets.
I am attaching two more photos, one of the view from the bridge and one more of the bridge itself:
Very nice photos again! Thank you for sharing! Do you live in Greneva, Greece? Maybe you could show us a bit more of your region? Are there other interesting places that are good for a visit?
Here are some more ancient bridges that I wanted to show you from my country:
Yes I am based in Grevena region, one of the most beautiful mountainous regions of Greece. There are plenty of places of interest in this region apart from the old bridges, like old monasteries, an amazing national park called Valia Calda, beautiful lakes, rivers and mountains… and I intent to show them all here, post by post in my free time!
I’m really curious to see all these places in Greneva. If you have the time, please share some of your best photos in the community. I’m sure it will be interesting for everyone. I’m going to share soon a post about my trip to Croatia I hope you will like it, too.
