Dragon Bridge, Art Nouveau arch bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dragon Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge spanning the Ljubljanica between Kopitar Street and Ressel Street, measuring 45 meters in length. Large copper dragon statues with outstretched wings rise from its four corners above the railings.
Construction took place between 1900 and 1901 following a design by Jurij Zaninović during the Austro-Hungarian period. The new structure replaced a wooden oak bridge damaged in the Easter earthquake of 1895.
The bridge takes its name from the copper dragon figures that have become a symbol visitors associate with the city and see on postcards everywhere. People often pause at the corners to look closely at the four large metal guardians and take photographs.
Crossing is brief and takes less than a minute on foot, with the dragon figures clearly visible from either side. The four corners offer the best angle for photographs of the copper guardians and the river below.
In addition to the four main figures, sixteen smaller dragons contribute to the decoration, making this the largest collection of dragon sculptures in the city. The wingspan of the large guardians reaches several meters and their green patina developed over decades through natural oxidation of the copper.
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