Gorges du Vikos, Old bridge of Konitsa

Bridge of Konitsa (1870, Single-arched). Bridge made of stone, located on the river Aoos, at the entrance of the homonymous town. It was built in 1870, replacing an older wooden bridge (two ineffectual efforts for the construction of the bridge are reported). Kostas Frontzos from Pyrsoyianni was the master builder, escorted by 50 craftsmen. The cost of the construction reached the amount of 120,000 piastres. The donors were I. Loulis (50,000 piastres), Ag. Papazoglou and all the residents of Konitsa. It is perhaps the tallest and widest single-arched bridge of Greece (20 X 40 m). Because of its dimensions the old habitants of the town had hung a small bell on it, ringing when strong winds blew, in order to warn the walkers that the pass was dangerous. A similar bell was hung by the Conservation Society of Konitsa in 1975, as the old one was already destroyed. The bridge of Konitsa was the only pass of the residents for many years. A State-of-the-Art structure of its era, it astonished the Turk mechanics and proved its durability and stability in 1913, when the latter tried to blow it up. It is still preserved. Its uniqueness is attributed to its vast arch, combined with the marvellous natural background.