Spanos bridge is located on the Venetiko river, a tributary of Aliakmon river and is the largest surviving stone bridge in Western Macedonia with 85.0m length and 14.35m maximum span. It is a five-arch, stone masonry construction dating from 1846, as evidenced by a voissoir engraving on the 4th arch.
HISTORY
The bridge bears the name of its sponsor, Mustafa Pasha or Spanos, from Argyrokastro (Gjirokaster), who financed the construction with 50,000 grosi, on top of -or near- the ruins of an older 5-arch bridge dating from the 15th century by Bayezid Yildirim. Next to the bridge stood an inn and the tomb of Spanos, which are not preserved. On the right approach to the bridge lies a newer stone masonry icon shrine.
The bridge has been designated as a historical monument since 1995 by the Ministry of Culture, as the work of anonymous craftsmen, perfectly aware of the static behavior of these sensitive structures, along with other stone bridges of Grevena Prefecture, that constitute a remarkable set of road works from the 18th and 19th century, shedding light to the roadways-crossings of that era. The numerous stone bridges found in the general area indicate a well-developed transport network.
DESCRIPTION
It consists of five semicircular arches of successively increasing spans, resting on massive pedestals on the rocky river outcrops. The median pedestals bear triangular cutwaters on each side and relief arches, in order to withstand the raging river current during floods. The construction materials are local rock (cured ashlar sandstone masonry), river stones and lime mortar. The arches have a double set of voissoirs and iron tie rod reinforcement. The roadway is paved by irregularly placed river stones and lined by a parapet made of vertically positioned stone blocks.
The bridge underwent a number of interventions during the 1950s, the most important being raising the roadway with the installation of concrete pavement, placement of a concrete parapet which was later replaced by metal barriers, extensive repairs on the stone bridge with concrete-based mortar, sealing of the 4th relief arch, and the construction of two shafts above the side arches to rig with explosives.
RESTORATION WORKS
Restoration works were carried out from 2019 to 2023, by the Service of Modern Monuments and Technical Works of the Ministry of Culture, as part of the "Western Macedonia" 2014-2020 Operational Program, which restored the bridge to its original form.
