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The stone arched bridge of the Pineios River in Larissa

The stone arched bridge of the Pineios River in Larissa

The stone arched bridge of the Pineios River in Larissa was one of the largest and most structurally stable bridges of the country. The prevailing view is that it was built in the 16th century, when Hasan Bey was the local governor. It was the first stone carriage bridge constructed in the Thessalian region. Hasan Bey was the son of Omer Bey and the grandson of Turhan Bey, the conqueror of Thessaly in 1423. The association between the Muslim mosque built in his honor next to the bridge he constructed is clear. The bridge was 120 meters long and 4.5 meters wide, just wide enough to allow two carriages to pass, albeit with difficulty. It spanned nine arches. The road surface had a slightly double-sloped (amphicline) design, with its highest point roughly at the center. There were no sidewalks, and the sides of the road were protected by stone parapets approximately 80 centimeters high. These parapets were made of large, thick slabs placed vertically. The bridge’s solid and careful construction kept it intact throughout the Ottoman period, up until the Occupation (1941–1944), when it was blown up twice. Pictured: The stone arched bridge of the Pineios River in Larissa in 1884. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.