Famous Bridges

Taking pictures is one of the things that tourists of every generation enjoy especially when traveling to a place with attractions famous all over the globe for its beauty and historical significance. Bridges with magnificent designs and spectacular views are among the most photographed structures. Here’s the list of the famous bridges all over the world that might help you in planning your holiday.

The Great Belt Bridge in Denmark is one of the famous bridges in the world. It is divided into two sections by the island of Sprogo - the eastern and western part. The eastern bridge is 254 meters (833ft) above sea level making its two pylons the highest points in Denmark. It is also considered as the bridge which has the third longest main span in the world, crossing the deepest part of Storebaelt between the islands of Zealand and Sprogo. On the other hand, West bridge is 6611 meters (21689ft) long rail and road bridge connecting the islands of Sprogo and Funen.

One of Switzerland’s main tourist attractions is the Chapel Bridge in the city of Lucerne. It is a 204 meter long oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe. This bridge is believed to be built around 1333 to help protect the city from attacks of its enemies. Paintings from the 17th century depicting the some events from the history of Lucerne can be seen inside the bridge. The bridge and paintings were destroyed by a fire in 1993 but they were quickly rebuilt.

In China Chengyang Bridge, the most famous rain and wind bridge in the region of Dong Minority was built in 1916. It is the largest of all wind and rain bridges measuring 64.4 meters long, 3.4 meters wide and 10.6 meters wide. This bridge which was made up of wood and stone, without nails or rivets stretches across the Linxi River. Until now, the bridge is still in heavy use.

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the tourist attractions in the city of New York. It has become an iconic landmark and every tourist who spends for an airfare to New York includes visiting this bridge as apart of itinerary. This bridge which spans across the East River connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. From the time of its completion in 1883 and for several years, it was named as the longest suspension bridge in the world. One can stroll along the wide pedestrian walkway and enjoy the panoramic view of the city.

A bridge that reflects the masterpiece of the ancient Roman bridge building can be found at Alcantara, Spain. Alcantara Bridge was built by an order of a Roman Emperor Trajan around 98 AD. Crossing the Tagus River, the bridge was built with two arches, one in the middle and one at the end to honor the emperor who initiated its construction. Both of the arches were destroyed during the war between the Moors and the Portuguese.

Sydney, Australia takes pride of having the largest bridge in the world. Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel arch bridge that took eight years to build. It is considered as one among the most photographed iconic landmark in the city. Most of the tourists who purchased airfare to Sydney make it a point to see this magnificent bridge up close and document the moment by taking several pictures.

Crossing the Neretva River in the city of Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina, Stari Most (“The Old Bridge”) was built by the Ottoman Turks in 1556. It served its purpose for 427 years until the Bosnian War in 1993 when it was destroyed. The bridge was rebuilt and opened to in 2004. It has been a tradition for the young men of the town to jump from the bridge to the river however since the water is very cold it is considered as a risky feat and only skilled divers should attempt to do it.

Another bridge well-known for its magnificent architecture is the Si-o-se Pol Bridge in the city of Isfahan, Iran. Made up of bricks and stones, this bridge is considered as an example of Safavid bridge design having 33 arches. It measures 295 meters long and 13.75 meters wide.

Japan has the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge also known as the Pearl Bridge. It measures 1,991 meters (6532ft) long spanning the Akashi Strait in Japan connecting Kobe on the mainland and Iwaya on Awayi Island. The construction of the bridge took 12 years and was opened for traffic in 1998.

Tourists who will take a boat ride along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy will get a chance to see the Rialto Bridge which is the oldest bridge among the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal. This stone bridge was predicted to collapse because of its audacious design however it defied its critics and has been considered as an architectural icon of Venice.

Charles Bridge is a famous stone bridge with a Gothic design spanning across the Vitava River in the city of Prague, Czech Republic. The bridge serves as the significant connection between the Old Town and the area around the Prague Castle because it is the only way to cross the Vitava River. It is one of the most visited sights in the city of Prague.

Tower Bridge is a must-see structure if you will be purchasing airfare to London to spend a holiday. A truly magnificent sight, the bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge across the Thames River. It consists of two towers tied at the upper level by a two horizontal walkways where one can see the panoramic view of the city. It got its name being situated nearby to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.

Anyone crossing the Millau Viaduct in Millau, France will surely be captivated by the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape and the bridge itself. Millau Viaduct is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world having a pylon’s summit of 343 meters (1125ft) which is slightly higher than the Eifel’s Tower.

Internationally recognized as the symbol of Los Angeles and California, Golden Gate Bridge is a masterwork of Architect Joseph B. Strauss. It is a suspension bridge spanning the strait of Golden Gate between San Francisco and the Marin County to the north. The bridge was designed to have a red-orange color to make it easily visible through the fog that frequently covers the bridge.

Ponte Vecchio which means Old Bridge is a Medieval bridge across the Arno River in Florence, Italy. It is the only bridge in Florence that survived the World War II. The bridge is popular because of the shops built along the structure consisting of jewelers, art dealers and vendors of souvenir items.

With all the affordable airfare deals available online, seeing all these architectural wonders is not impossible. Just keep on searching and you’ll find one which will surely fit your budget.