The Stone Bridge was built in the 6th century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian

admin ♦ August 5, 2010 ♦ 1 Comment

The Stone Bridge was built in the 6th century by the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Since then it has been the symbol of the city and every ruler tried to leave a mark on it, even Skopje’s last major who has been restoring it for 10 years now. The biggest reconstruction of the bridge was made in the second half of the 15th century by Sultan Mehmed II. The stone fence and guard tower were added then. Unfortunately the guard tower fell down during the most recent restoration and is waiting to be reconstructed. It still is the main connection of the main square and the old bazaar. While walking over it try to notice the 6th century big stone bloks. The bridge has 13 arches and is 214m long. The Stone Bridge is a bridge across the Vardar River in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. The bridge is considered a symbol of Skopje and is the main element of the coat of arms of the city, which in turn is incorporated in the city’s flag. Most evidence suggests that the bridge was constructed in the 15th century. The Stone Bridge connects Macedonia Square, in the center of Skopje, to the Old Bazaar. The bridge is also known as the Dušan Bridge after Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia. The Stone Bridge is built of solid stone blocks and is supported by firm columns that are connected with 12 semicircular arcs. The bridge is 214 m (702 ft) long and 6 m (20 ft) wide. The guardhouse has recently been reconstructed. Throughout the centuries, the Stone Bridge was often damaged and then repaired. There is historical evidence that it once suffered during the great earthquake of 1555 which heavily damaged or destroyed four pillars. In 1944, explosives were placed on the bridge by fascists. When Skopje was liberated, the activation of the explosives was prevented and the bridge was saved from a destruction. Many executions have also taken place on this bridge, such as the execution of revolutionary Duke Karposh, King of Kumanovo, in 1689.Error processing request