Description:
This article has been previously published as a part of book Antalya, Side and Alanya: TAN Travel Guide by Izabela Miszczak
This Roman bridge, beautifully situated over deep Köprülü Canyon, is an irrefutable proof of Roman engineers' ingenuity. The bridge, spanning the cliffs of the canyon, is now called Oluk Köprü (i.e. Gutter Bridge). It still provides the communication link on the route from the Mediterranean coast deep into the Taurus Mountains, to the area of ancient Pisidia.
The bridge stands over Köprüçay River, in ancient times known as Eurymedon. The structure is 14 meters long and 3.5 meters wide. The narrow road on the bridge limits the width of vehicles to 2.5 meters. The bridge consists of a single arch, with a span of 7 meters.
The voussoirs (i.e. wedge-shaped elements) which were used during the construction of the bridge, are 60 cm wide. They were fitted together without the use of mortar. The building technology indicates that the bridge was erected in the 2nd century CE, in the heydey of the city of Selge.
Getting there:
The nearest settlement is Beşkonak village and the most impressive ancient city near the bridge is Selge, situated in Altınkaya village, 11 kilometres away from the bridge. The bridge is 43 km away from the crossroad on D400 route, running along the Mediterranean coast.
By car: the bridge over Eurymedon is located in the Taurus Mountains, at an altitude of about 1,000 meters above sea level. From the Mediterranean coast, you can get there on a decent road. In order to find the proper turn-off, find a signpost on the intersection on D400 route (36.893219, 31.239155), located between the towns of Manavgat (25 km to the east) and Serik (14 km to the west).
From this intersection, the road leads to the north, in the direction of Köprülü Canyon National Park. During the ride, you can enjoy the views of Köprüçay River and its canyon. After 43 km, you reach the bridge, and later you can drive over it and head to the ruins of Selge. They are located 11 km away to the north-west of the bridge.
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