{"id":154583,"date":"2016-05-02T14:00:44","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T13:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/?p=154583"},"modified":"2017-04-15T18:57:39","modified_gmt":"2017-04-15T17:57:39","slug":"top-10-most-beautiful-bridges-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/2016\/05\/02\/top-10-most-beautiful-bridges-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10: most beautiful bridges in the world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Monday newsletters always feature\u00a0top 10 travel lists<\/a>\u00a0to inspire.<\/p>\n

Today (May 2, 2016): top 10\u00a0most beautiful bridges in the world.<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Not all bridges are just a convenient construction to connect two points by spanning a river or valley. Some of them rank among the world’s most iconic sights\u00a0and millions of tourist flock to see them every year.\u00a0The following 10 bridges are jewels\u00a0of architecture and marvels of technology \u00a0that have become landmarks in their own right.<\/p>\n

There is more information below the slideshow.\u00a0Think I missed one? Share your favorite bridge in the comments section<\/strong>, or take my\u00a0poll<\/strong>\u00a0below!<\/p>\n

This slideshow requires JavaScript.<\/p>

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*** Follow me\u00a0on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***<\/em><\/p>\n

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10. KHAJU BRIDGE, ISHAFAN, IRAN<\/strong><\/h5>\n

This Iranian bridge is one of the finest examples of\u00a0Persian architecture\u00a0at the height of\u00a0Safavid\u00a0cultural influence in Iran.\u00a0Located in the Isfahan province, \u00a0the Khaju bridge performs many functions. The first is connecting the two banks of the Zayandeh river. At the same time, it works as a dam that separates two portions of the river with different water levels. Finally, it is an excellent place for leisure, with its pavilions and steps over the water, in a region where the heat is often intense.<\/p>\n

\"KHAJU<\/a>
KHAJU BRIDGE, ISHAFAN, IRAN<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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9. BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, USA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Completed in 1932 for just over $200,000, the concrete span, one of the highest bridges of its kind in the world, soars 79 meters (260 ft) above the bottom of a steep canyon carved by Bixby Creek. One look at the canyon\u2019s steep and crumbling cliffs, and it\u2019s obvious that building the bridge wasn\u2019t exactly a cakewalk. Ironically, the span was completed before the road, and it would be five more years before the route would even be opened.\u00a0It is\u00a0one of the most photographed bridges along the Pacific Coast due to its aesthetic design and location along one of the world’s most spectacular roads<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"BIXBY<\/a>
BIXBY CREEK BRIDGE, BIG SUR, CALIFORNIA, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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8. TOWER BRIDGE LONDON, UK<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Tower Bridge was built 120 years ago over the Thames to ease road traffic while maintaining river access to the London docks. Built with giant moveable roadways that lift up for passing ships, it is to this day considered an engineering marvel and one of London\u2019s favorite icons. It is arguably one of the most instantly recognisable structures in the entire world. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge’s twin towers, high-level walkways and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition, for which an admission charge is made.<\/p>\n

\"TOWER<\/a>
TOWER BRIDGE LONDON, UK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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7. SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE, AUSTRALIA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world’s tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134\u00a0m (440\u00a0ft) from top to water level. In its beautiful harbour location, it\u00a0has become a renowned international symbol of Australia.\u00a0Its total length including approach spans is 1149 metres (3770 ft) and its arch span is 503 meters (1650 ft). The bridge –\u00a0nicknamed “The Coathanger” because of its arch-based design –\u00a0carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between Sydney’s central business district and the\u00a0North Shore.<\/p>\n

\"SYDNEY<\/a>
SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE, AUSTRALIA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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6. PONTE DI RIALTO, VENICE<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge)\u00a0was built in just three years, between 1588 and 1591, as a permanent replacement for the boat bridge and three wooden bridges that had spanned the Grand Canal at various times since the 12th Century.\u00a0<\/span>The Rialto Bridge’s 7.5 meter (24 ft) arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later. The architect, Antonio da Ponte competed against such eminent designers as Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract.<\/p>\n

\"PONTE<\/a>
PONTE DI RIALTO, VENICE, ITALY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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5. BROOKLYN BRIDGE, NEW YORK CITY, USA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

New York’s famous Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects the boroughs of\u00a0Manhattan and\u00a0Brooklyn by spanning the East River over a length of 486.3\u00a0m (1,596 ft).\u00a0Construction of the bridge began in 1869 and\u00a0was opened fourteen years later. The bridge is one of New York’s best free attractions<\/a>\u00a0and has a wide pedestrian walkway open to walkers and cyclists in its center above the automobile lanes. While walking from Brooklyn towards Manhattan, you will be overwhelmed by the skyline views unfolding in front of you.<\/p>\n

\"BROOKLYN<\/a>
BROOKLYN BRIDGE, NEW YORK, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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4. MILLAU VIADUCT, FRANCE<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The Millau Viaduct is part of the A75-A71 Freeway from Paris to Montpellier, and is located in the Aveyron d\u00e9partment in southern France.\u00a0It is the highest bridge in the world, standing 270 meters (890 ft) over the Tarn River and is more than 340 meters (1,125 ft) in height at the top of its highest mast. It is slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris and only 38 meters (125 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building. It is a cable-stayed road bridge designed by engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster.<\/p>\n

\"MILLAU<\/a>
MILLAU VIADUCT, FRANCE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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3. PONTE VECCHIO, FLORENCE, ITALY<\/strong><\/h5>\n

No visit to Florence is complete without at least some time spent dawdling on its medieval arch bridge,\u00a0Ponte Vecchio, that spans the Arno river at its narrowest point. The bridge was first built in Roman times, but rebuilt in the 14th century after it was destroyed by a flood. During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy.\u00a0There have always been shops on Ponte Vecchio. Initially, these were butchers and fishmongers but it was later decided\u00a0that only goldsmiths and jewellers be allowed to have their shops here.<\/p>\n

\"PONTE<\/a>
PONTE VECCHIO, FLORENCE, ITALY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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2. CHARLES BRIDGE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Charles Bridge is a stone gothic bridge\u00a0that crosses the\u00a0Vltava\u00a0river and connects Prague’s Old Town and Lesser Town (Mal\u00e1 Strana).\u00a0The bridge is 621 metres (2,037\u00a0ft) long and nearly 10 metres (33\u00a0ft) wide, resting on 16 arches shielded by ice guards.\u00a0The bridge is decorated by a continuous alley of 30\u00a0statues and statuaries, most of them\u00a0baroque-style, originally erected around 1700 but now all replaced by replicas. From the bridge, visitors have a stunning panoramic view of the Prague Castle.<\/p>\n

\"CHARLES<\/a>
CHARLES BRIDGE, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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1. GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, USA<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The\u00a0iconic Golden Bridge,\u00a0one of the most internationally recognized symbols of the USA, spans the channel between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, linking the city of San Francisco with Marin County.\u00a0It opened in 1937 and was, until 1964, the longest suspension bridge main span in the world, at \u00a01,300\u00a0m (4,200 ft). The bridge was recently retrofitted,\u00a0to better resist earthquakes\u00a0given its proximity to\u00a0the Ring of Fire.\u00a0The bridge is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists, and has walkways and cycling paths on either side of the six vehicle traffic lanes.<\/p>\n

\"GOLDEN<\/a>
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, USA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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*** Follow me\u00a0on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0and Facebook<\/a>\u00a0for a daily moment of travel inspiration ***<\/em><\/p>\n

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