Stari Most, Ottoman stone bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Stari Most is an Ottoman stone bridge in Mostar that spans 29 meters across the emerald Neretva River, rising 24 meters above the water level. The construction of limestone and marble forms a single high arch connecting both riverbanks with a width of 4 meters.
Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the construction of the bridge in 1566 and it stood for four centuries. In 1993 it was destroyed during the Bosnian War and rebuilt eleven years later following historical plans.
The name means Old Bridge and today people see it as a symbol of reconciliation between different communities in the city. Each summer locals and travelers gather to watch the divers who take the leap into the water.
Crossing is only possible on foot and in wet weather the worn stones can become slippery. The bridge is best visited early in the morning or late in the afternoon when fewer people are around.
The architect Mimar Hajrudin allegedly wrote his will before the scaffolding was removed because he was not sure whether the arch would hold. After the successful opening he lived for another nine years.
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