10 bridges that you should cross

I’ve always had a thing for bridges. Mainly old stone ones. However, as I grew and grew as a traveller, I started to discover new horizons while still being tempted by the old ones. Would you like to cross them with me by your side?

Stari Most; Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. STARI MOST
Location: Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
River: Neretva
Completed: 1566
Trivia: Built during the Ottoman period by the Turkish architect Hajrudin and commissioned by the sultan Soliman the Magnificent, Stari Most was completed after nine years’ work. Various legends were woven around the bridge, one of them exploring the stubbornness of Hajrudin, who stayed underneath of it for three days and nights in order to demonstrate the bridge's absolute solidity. The original version of the bridge fought time but couldn't resist conflicts, as it was destroyed in November 1993 during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was rebuilt and re-inaugurated in July 2004, enchanting again the eyes of the locals and of the visitors of this jewel of a city. 

Ponte Luis I; Porto, Portugal
 
  1. PONTE LUIS I
Location: Porto, Portugal
River: Duoro
Completed: 1886
Trivia: The bridge is often confused with the nearby Maria Pia Bridge. The latter has only one deck.

Lánchíd; Budapest, Hungary

  1. LÁNCHÍD
Location: Budapest, Hungary
River: Danube
Completed: 1849
Trivia: According to the story, sculptor Marschalko János forgot to carve out the lions' tongues. A boy noticed this during the opening ceremony. The sculptor became so distressed that he jumped off the bridge into the Danube.

Stara Kamena Cuprija; Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. STARA KAMENA ĆUPRIJA
Location: Konjic, Bosnia and Herzegovina
River: Neretva
Completed: 1682
Trivia: The imposing Kamena cuprija (Stone Bridge) was destroyed during WWII, but was rebuilt in 2009.

Most Mehmed-paše Sokolovića; Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina

  1. MOST MEHMED-PAŠE SOKOLOVIĆA
Location: Višegrad, Bosnia and Herzegovina
River: Drina
Completed: 1571
Trivia: Even though misleading through its name, the bridge was built by Ottoman architect and engineer Mimar Sinan for the Grand Vizier (of Christian origin) Mehmed Paša Sokolović.

Pol-e Joui; Isfahan, Iran

  1. POL-E JOUI
Location: Isfahan, Iran
River: Zayanderud
Completed: 1665
Trivia: As a result of drought and water diversion to other Iranian cities south of Isfahan, there is usually no water in the river bed, so one may walk freely and take pictures from various perspectives. (At least, this was the case in 2014.)

Arslanagića Most; Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina

  1. ARSLANAGIĆA MOST
Location: Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina
River: Trebišnjica
Completed: 1574
Trivia: Again commissioned by Mehmed Paša, the bridge was homage to his son killed in the fights against the Venetians.

Tower Bridge; London, UK

  1. TOWER BRIDGE
Location: London, England
River: Thames
Completed: 1894
Trivia: How many people cross the bridge every day? Well, that’s over 40000 (motorists and pedestrians).

Brúin milli heimsálfa; Sandvík, Iceland

  1. BRÚ Á MILLI HEIMSÁLFA
Location: Sandvík, Iceland
River: --
Completed: 2002
Trivia: Reykjanes peninsula is located on one of the world's major plate boundaries, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. With the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates continuously drifting apart, linear fractures, known as fissures, form. The Bridge between the two continents is a small footbridge over such a major fissure. Consequently, you can have one foot on European soil and the other on North American soil at the same time.

Pont Alexandre III; Paris, France

  1. PONT ALEXANDRE III
Location: Paris, France
River: Seine
Completed: 1900
Trivia: Named after Tsar Alexandre III, the bridge would commemorate the Franco-Russian Alliance signed in 1892 and considering the big threat that Germany posed – as always – to the two countries.

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