Stari Most, Ottoman stone arch 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.
Commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557, the bridge was designed by Mimar Hayruddin and completed in 974 AH (1566–67), replacing a wooden suspension bridge. Croatian Defence Council shelling brought it down on 9 November 1993. Rebuilt with UNESCO, World Bank and Turkish support, it reopened on 23 July 2004.
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.
Before building the full-size bridge, Mimar Hayruddin tested the design on a small scale: the Kriva Ćuprija, a miniature replica spanning the Radobolja, still stands near the site. Legend holds that Hayruddin never saw the finished bridge, and that he was executed after it collapsed.
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