Stari Most

The original bridge was commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and completed in 1566 by the architect Mimar Hayruddin. It was a remarkable feat of engineering, featuring a single stone arch that spanned the Neretva River. At the time of its construction, it was the widest man-made arch in the world.

The historic bridge was deliberately destroyed by artillery fire during the Bosnian War on November 9, 1993. An international coalition funded a massive reconstruction project using original Ottoman techniques and locally sourced Tenelija stone. The newly rebuilt bridge was officially inaugurated on July 23, 2004.

Every summer, the local young men of Mostar participate in a centuries-old tradition of diving off the 24-meter high bridge into the freezing Neretva River. This dangerous rite of passage tests their courage and skill. The annual diving competition draws thousands of spectators to the city.

Stari Most simply translates to Old Bridge in the local Bosnian language. The bridge is so central to the city's identity that Mostar actually derives its name from the bridge keepers, known as Mostari. It stands as a global symbol of reconciliation and historical continuity.