The legendary Bridge of Arta is located at the entrance of the city and connects the two banks of the Arachthos River.
It is the most famous bridge in Greece, renowned both for its architecture and for the legends associated with its construction.
It is believed that the initial works for its foundation were carried out in the 3rd century BC, during the reign of King Pyrrhus I.
Its current form is the result of many reconstructions and interventions, the most recent of which took place during the Ottoman period, when in 1612 the large arch was destroyed and had to be rebuilt.
The construction of the large arch is linked to the legend that the master builder’s wife had to be sacrificed to stabilize the bridge. According to tradition, the bridge would collapse a few hours after being built for no apparent reason. A bird then appeared, declaring that to solve the problem, the master builder’s beautiful wife had to be sacrificed. The famous traditional song “The Bridge of Arta” recounts the entire story in detail.
Behind the legend, however, there is, according to researchers, a historical truth: the Turks ordered the reconstruction of the bridge because they wanted their army to cross to the opposite bank of the river.
The locals offered to help, hoping to gain their favor. However, when they learned of the Turks’ intentions, they would go at night and demolish what they had built during the day. The Turks were concerned about the delay of the project and demanded explanations. To justify themselves, the locals claimed that the bridge was haunted, hoping that the Turks would not cross there. However, the Turkish commander, angered by the deception, ordered the arrest and execution of the master builder and his wife.
When the locals learned of the developments, they became afraid and completed the work. They cursed anyone who crossed the bridge, but their curses turned into blessings after the 1821 Revolution, when they hoped for the liberation of the Nation by the Greek army.
The plane tree is located on the left bank of the Arachthos River, next to the historic Bridge of Arta. It is approximately 350 years old, with a height of 10 meters and a circumference of 13.45 meters.
During the Ottoman period, according to Wikipedia, the plane tree of Arta, along with Monopoleio Square, served as sites for the execution of prisoners and civilians, as evidenced by the decapitated skeletons found in excavations. The choice of the square and the plane tree on the Bridge of Arta was due to the fact that they were busy areas, and the sight of the dead served as a warning to the subjugated Greeks.
A notable incident involved King George I, who visited Arta on September 16, 1881. The reception was warm, and later that afternoon, the king inspected the units camped at the Arta Castle. The following day, he visited the Bridge of Arta, paid respects to the Turkish commander Ali Riza Bey, and then carved his name into the ancient plane tree. Along with the officers, he formed a human circle around the tree.
The plane tree in popular tradition
According to tradition, Ali Pasha of Ioannina would sit under the plane tree and watch the Greeks he had condemned to death by hanging. It is also said that the tree served as a target for Ali Pasha himself before a raid against the Souliotes, an event that inspired the folk song:
“Poor plane tree, you stand withered, with your roots in the water and still withered; Children, since you asked me, I’ll tell you. Ali Pasha passed by with eighteen thousand. And all of them sat in my shade, they sat in my coolness, and all of them aimed at me, and all of them shot me. They cut my branches, my heart withered, and that old Ali Pasha strikes my heart.”
The Bridge of Arta
This is the nationally famous folk song of the Bridge of Arta:
Σαράντα πέντε μάστοροι κι εξήντα μαθητάδες
γιοφύρι εθεμέλιωναν στης Άρτας το ποτάμι.
Ολημερίς το χτίζανε, το βράδυ εγκρεμιζόταν.
Μοιριολογούν οι μάστοροι και κλαιν οι μαθητάδες:
“Αλοίμονο στούς κόπους μας, κρίμα στις δούλεψές μας,
ολημερίς να χτίζουμε το βράδυ να γκρεμιέται.”
Πουλάκι εδιάβη κι έκατσε αντίκρυ στό ποτάμι,
δεν εκελάηδε σαν πουλί, μηδέ σαν χηλιδόνι,
παρά εκελάηδε κι έλεγε ανθρωπινή λαλίτσα:
“Αν δε στοιχειώσετε άνθρωπο, γιοφύρι δε στεριώνει,
και μη στοιχειώσετε ορφανό, μη ξένο, μη διαβάτη,
παρά του πρωτομάστορα την όμορφη γυναίκα,
που έρχεται αργά τ’ αποταχύ και πάρωρα το γιόμα.”
Τ’ άκουσ’ ο πρωτομάστορας και του θανάτου πέφτει
Πιάνει, μηνάει της λυγερής με το πουλί τ’ αηδόνι:
Αργά ντυθεί, αργά αλλαχτεί, αργά να πάει το γιόμα,
αργά να πάει και να διαβεί της Άρτας το γιοφύρι.
Και το πουλι παράκουσε κι αλλιώς επήγε κι είπε:
“Γοργά ντύσου, γοργά άλλαξε, γοργά να πας το γιόμα,
γοργά να πας και να διαβείς της Άρτας το γιοφύρι.”
Να τηνε κι εξαναφανεν από την άσπρην στράτα.
Την είδ’ ο πρωτομάστορας, ραγίζεται η καρδιά του.
Από μακριά τους χαιρετά κι από κοντά τους λέει:
“Γειά σας, χαρά σας, μάστοροι και σεις οι μαθητάδες,
μα τι έχει ο πρωτομάστορας και είναι βαργιομισμένος;
“Το δαχτυλίδι το ‘πεσε στην πρώτη την καμάρα,
και ποιος να μπει, και ποιος να βγει, το δαχτυλίδι νά ‘βρει;”
“Μάστορα, μην πικραίνεσαι κι εγώ να πά σ’ το φέρω,
εγώ να μπω, κι εγώ να βγω, το δαχτυλίδι νά ‘βρω.”
Μηδέ καλά εκατέβηκε, μηδέ στη μέση επήγε,
“Τράβα, καλέ μ’ τον άλυσο, τράβα την αλυσίδα
τι όλον τον κόσμο ανάγειρα και τίποτες δεν ήβρα.”
Ένας πηχάει με το μυστρί κι άλλος με τον ασβέστη,
παίρνει κι ο πρωτομάστορας και ρίχνει μέγα λίθο.
“Αλίμονο στη μοίρα μας, κρίμα στο ριζικό μας!
Τρεις αδελφάδες ήμαστε, κι οι τρεις κακογραμμένες,
η μια ‘χτισε τον Δούναβη, κι η άλλη τον Αφράτη
κι εγώ η πλιό στερνότερη της Άρτας το γιοφύρι.
Ως τρέμει το καρυόφυλλο, να τρέμει το γιοφύρι,
κι ως πέφτουν τα δεντρόφυλλα, να πέφτουν οι διαβάτες.”
“Κόρη, τον λόγον άλλαξε κι άλλη κατάρα δώσε,
πο ‘χεις μονάκριβο αδελφό, μη λάχει και περάσει.”
Κι αυτή το λόγον άλλαζε κι άλλη κατάρα δίνει:
“Αν τρέμουν τ’ άγρια βουνά, να τρέμει το γιοφύρι,
κι αν πέφτουν τ’ άγρια πουλιά, να πέφτουν οι διαβάτες,
τί έχω αδελφό στην ξενιτιά, μη λάχει και περάσει.
— Folk song
