Epirus and especially the area of Konitsa is famous for the skillful bridge constructions that remain unchanged over time and remind us of the greatness of man. In perfect combination with the environment, the Konitsio bridges offer the visitor amazing images that remain deeply etched in the memory. Of these, the bridge of Konitsa stands out, the highest single arch in the Balkans with dimensions of 20m. height and 40m. wide, built in 1870 by the master craftsman Ziogas Frontzos from Pyrsogianni, the bridge of Klidonia, Drosopigi-Zermas, Kastaniana, Topolitsa, etc
A trademark of Kantsikos is the stone bridge in Sarandaporo, one of the few bridges in Epirus, which was founded in the middle of the 18th century – to be precise in 1747 – as a relief inscription on a built-in slab shows.
It is built on a characteristic rock, from both sides of which start its two large arches towards the opposite banks of the river. Above the rock there is an even smaller arch to allow the waters of the river to pass through during periods of high water.
This is the only surviving stone bridge in the main part of Sarandaporos.
It is the oldest and highest built bridge of Kastaniana. It was built in 1845 on the site of an older bridge from 1835 that was destroyed. Its construction and structure are archaic with an arch span of about 10 m.
The single-arched bridge probably owes its name to the Mitsei family, who lived on the south side of the village, where the bridge was built.
It bridges one of the many small streams in the area, which end up in Sarantaporos.
At the point where the provincial road from Bourazani to Molyvdoskepasto approaches the river Aoos, there are the ruins of the now destroyed Mesogefyra. The bridge was built at a important spot and it is considered that its first foundation here took place in the 7th AD. century, under Konstantinos Pogonatos.
By observing the remains of the old bridge, one should call to mind a great three-arched bridge, with the central arch longer than the two side ones, and its unusual peculiarity, which was its level passageway.
In the areas around the bridge (Agia Triada), Mycenaean swords have been discovered as well as findings which date back to the prehistoric era.
In a typical hilly position near the bridge, recently ruins of buildings from the 4th to the 2nd BC. century were found and among them various findings, such as ceramics, textile weights, bronze objects, samples of micro-artwork, parts of female figurines, as well as several silver and copper coins. It is worth noting that the silver coins come from various mints of the then known world, such as Pella, Amphipolis, and Babylon.
The bridge was blown up in 1940 by the Greek army during the Italian invasion and a few years later (1944) its destruction by the German army was completed.
Τhe large single-arched bridge of Konitsa, which was built in 1870-71 by a crew of 50 craftsmen led by master craftsman Ziogas Frontzos from Pyrsogianni, is located at the south-western edge of the city, right at the entrance of the Aoos ravine.
The bridge was built with donations from the city’s residents, and especially from Ioannis Loulis from Ioannina, who provided approximately half of the 120,000 kurus (piastres) that its building cost.
In the same place, a wooden bridge was built earlier, in 1823, but didn’t withstand the rush of the river and was soon destroyed.
The current stone bridge is 36 meters wide and 20 meters high, while under its arch you can see the small bell that was meant to warn passers-by not to cross the bridge when there was a strong wind blowing from inside the ravine, thus there was a risk of drift and fall.
