Photos

See my theme: The stone-made bridge of Arta
.............................................
Bridge of Arta (3rd cent. BC, Four-arched)
The stone-made bridge of Arta was built above the river Arachthos, at the entrance of Arta. Its present form is the result of many supplements and reconstructions of the initial structure. The bridge was originally constructed during the hellenistic period, as it is proven by its pedestals which were built using large regular stones, according to the isodomic masonry. Certain students claim that the bridge was founded in the hellenistic period and then the four big arches were constructed in the byzantine times. The bridge was reconstructed in 1612 and obtained its final form.
In 1881 the bridge became the border between the free and the Turk-occupied Greece. The length of the bridge reaches 145 m, whilst the width of the passing cobbled road is 3, 75 m.
It is the most famous bridge of Epirus and Greece in general. The relevant legend refers to the sacrifice of the master builder's wife, which was necessary for the propping of the bridge. Also renowned is the folk song that narrates this tradition.
Another legend mentions that, during the summer, the wife of the master builder becomes an elf and, dressed in black, lurks on the big arch. Whoever passes the bridge in afternoon hours, she throws him into the river and drowns him. There is a plethora of other legends and beliefs about the bridge of Arta, which all show the human awe about this extraordinary, for those times, construction.
....................................................
The Arachthos River (Greek: Άραχθος) is a river in eastern Epirus in Greece that flows from the Pindus mountains and begins in the area southeast of Metsovo in the Ioannina Prefecture near the Trikala Prefecture and flows by numerous village including Elliniko. It enters the Arta Prefecture and into the Arachthos Dam which is about 20 km² and prevents flooding of the city as well as supplies water to the most of Epirus. Near the dam is the town of Peta southeast and within the river is the GR-30 (Arta - Karditsa) and flows into Arta's historic landmark, the Bridge of Arta which is north of the modern day bridge of the Old GR-5. It is made up of stones. The river flows into a small plain and into an area that has grasslands and swamps and are surrounded by farms and finally empties into the Ambracian Gulf south of Arta.