De Bosset Bridge

The De Bosset Bridge in Argostoli Kefalonia is the largest stone bridge on a seawater body and has been in existence since 1813 when the Swiss engineer Charles Philippe De Bosset was employed by the British Army. Thanks to his contribution in the form of study and construction of the bridge, Monsieur de Bosset was appointed as Governor of Kefalonia from 1810-1814 by the British who reigned the Ionian Islands from 1809-1864. At 689.9 meters, it is the longest stone bridge over the sea in the world.

As you pass the bridge upon arrival in the island's capital, a four-faced symmetrical obelisk made up of carved rocks rises from the sea. This monument called Kolona existed since 1813 and was the Kefalonian Parliament's symbol of gratitude to Great Britain. The obelisk had a plaque in four languages: Greek, English, Italian, and Latin with the inscription To the glory of the British Empire, which was mysteriously stricken in 1865, when the Greeks regained control of the island. Since then, the inscription changed according to the different ruling periods. There used to exist a small walkway connecting the obelisk to the bridge but now it has disappeared.

References:

• greeka.com

Address

Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece

Details

Founded: 1813
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Greece