Stari Most, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Stari Most is a 16th-century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva connecting the two parts of the city.

The original bridge was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 to replace an older wooden suspension bridge of dubious stability. Construction began in 1557 and took nine years: according to the inscription the bridge was completed in 974 AH, corresponding to the period between 19 July 1566 and 7 July 1567. Tour directors remark that the bridge was held together with metal pins and mortar made from the protein of egg whites.

The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 by Croat military forces during the Croat–Bosniak War. Subsequently, a project was set in motion to reconstruct it, and the rebuilt bridge opened on 23 July 2004

Today, the bridge is a focal point for tourism as well as providing one of two crossing points across the Neretva River.

Shooting details: Hasselblad H6D50C. 24mm HCD, ISO 100, f/11 at 23 seconds

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