Plaka Bridge

Built in 1866 by the mason Kostas Bekas, the Plaka bridge spans the Arachthos in a single arch of about forty metres with a rise of over seventeen, which made it the largest one-arch stone bridge in the Balkans and one of the largest in Europe. On 1 February 2015 a violent flood on the Arachthos brought it down, and the collapse became national news; a restoration project led by the National Technical University of Athens recovered stones from the river, documented the original construction and rebuilt the bridge using traditional methods and, where possible, the original material, reopening it in 2020. The setting is a deep green river between the Tzoumerka and Xirovouni mountains, with a smaller old bridge and the remains of a mill nearby.

History

The bridge was built on the order of Sultan Abdülaziz and completed in 1866 under the local master builder Kostas Bekas of Pramanta, after attempts by other builders in 1860 and 1863 had failed; with an arch 40 metres wide and 17.61 m high it is the largest single-arch bridge in Greece and the Balkans. On 3 February 1878, during that year's revolt, Greek troops under Konstantinos Kottikas drove off the Ottoman garrison guarding it (Wikipedia, Plaka Bridge).

What to look for

• The great arch - a forty-metre single span rebuilt in traditional masonry.
• The river gorge - the Arachthos running green between mountain flanks.
• The restoration work - visible evidence of the rebuild in the stonework.
• The old mill remains - ruins beside the approach paths.

When to go

Spring for a full river under the arch and green hills; autumn for colour. The bridge is accessible year-round, and there is a viewing area beside the road.

Practical notes

It is a roadside monument seen in half an hour; the deck is steep and cobbled. There are few facilities beyond a seasonal cafe. Approaching from Ioannina takes about an hour on winding roads.

Nearby

Syrrako and Kalarites lie up the mountain; Arta and its own famous bridge are downstream.

Key facts