Plaka Bridge, famous for its architecture, is an arched stone bridge spanning the Arachthos river. The bridge connects Tzoumerka with Katsanochoria and, consequently, Ioannina with Arta. This bridge was first built in 1866 and reconstructed in 2019. Its famous architecture means that there is a single arch, with a base span of 40 metres and […]
Plaka Bridge, famous for its architecture, is an arched stone bridge spanning the Arachthos river. The bridge connects Tzoumerka with Katsanochoria and, consequently, Ioannina with Arta. This bridge was first built in 1866 and reconstructed in 2019. Its famous architecture means that there is a single arch, with a base span of 40 metres and a peak span of 3.2 metres. The height of the bridge is 21 metres. This is considered the largest single-arch bridge in the Balkan peninsula and the third in size in Europe. It has collapsed three times, in 1860, 1863 and, more recently, in 2015, following heavy rainfalls. After the 2015 collapse, its reconstruction was planned immediately after the event and most of the project was completed on 4 December 2019. The bridge was constructed by the same master builder who built the Bridge in Konitsa and it costed 170,000 Ottoman kuruş, a sum met by Loulis’ sponsorship and contributions of inhabitants of the surrounding communities.
During WW II, the bridge was bombarded by Nazi forces. Despite the bombardment, the bridge only suffered minor damage. Locals repaired it using cement in 1943. Near the bridge, the Plaka-Myrophyllo Agreement was signed by Greek resistance groups on 29 February 1944. There used to be a niche at the bridge where craftsmen had painted its patron saint. In recent years the bridge has become a tourist sight attraction for the area.
In 2007 the bridge suffered serious damage during the heavy rainfalls and there were plans for its repair project, which were not realised, which aroused protests. The arch had collapsed on 1 February 2015, when the rainfall led to river flooding. The study was undertaken by the National Metsovion Technical University of Athens and an inter-disciplinary team was responsible for restoring the bridge by autumn 2019. Finally, the arch keystone was put in place to lock the arch on 4 December 2019 and the basic construction was completed. The bridge restoration was awarded the Europa Nostra prize in 2021.
The bridge is visitable and one of the most photographed sites of the region.