Sangarius Bridge, Roman bridge in Sakarya Province, Turkey
The Sangarius Bridge is a limestone deck arch structure spanning 429 meters across the Sakarya River in Sakarya Province. It features seven main arches with additional smaller openings at each end that allow floodwaters to pass through without damaging the main piers.
Emperor Justinian I ordered this structure built around 559 AD as a military and trade route to connect Constantinople with eastern territories. The project reflected the empire's effort to strengthen control over regional networks and ensure safe passage for both armies and merchants.
This crossing has long served as a vital meeting point where merchants, pilgrims, and travelers passed through on their journeys across the region. Visitors today can still sense this historical role by observing how the structure connects the communities on both riverbanks.
The walkway across is relatively level and straightforward to traverse, though the ancient stone surface can be uneven in places. Coming during daylight hours allows visitors to properly see the structure and its surroundings in detail.
Two Byzantine poets named Paul the Silentiaire and Agathias composed detailed verses about this bridge shortly after its completion. These ancient accounts provide visitors with rare insight into how contemporaries viewed this engineering achievement.
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