Moving on from Nafpaktos and Delphi, we started on the last leg of our trip into the Peloponnese - for myself and Nighean Dhonn, really a return.
Once upon a time, the only way to access the Peloponnese would have been via ship or by taking the Isthmus of Corinth. Now, one can take the Rio Antirrio Bridge (officially the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge). It was completed in 2004 and is at the narrowest point between Attic and the Peloponnese. The bridge is formally named for the 19th Century Greek Prime Minister that originally proposed the idea; its colloquial name comes from the towns on either side of the strait.
On the Attic side is the well preserved Rio Fortress. Originally built by the Ottomans, it exchanged hands between Ottoman and Venetian until it finally became Greek. It has a sister fortress on the other side of the strait (in Antirrio).
The bridge is 2380 meters/7,810 ft long and is the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.
Looking towards the Corinthian Isthmus:
Crossing the bridge is 13.70 Euros/$14.20 for a car and up to 69 Euros/$75.35 for a bus.
The bridge itself is something of an engineering model. More here if you are interested.
That first photo, engineering marvels hundreds of years apart TB.
ReplyDeleteNylon12, I am glad that they preserved both (apparently the fortress is largely used as an outdoor event/concert area now). It is a lovely juxtaposition of old and new technology.
DeleteThat's an interesting bridge. Even as modern looking as it is, it still seems to belong to the landscape.
ReplyDeleteThat is an interesting thought Leigh - I had not thought about it, but you are exactly right: it does fit in.
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