The memory section “Amarcord”, through which the Shkodra Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage presents the architectural treasures of Shkodra Region, this time brings to attention the Vizier’s Bridge. It is one of the public engineering works of the Bushati Viziers, built in 1770 by Mehmet Pasha Bushati himself.
The bridge was built over the Drin River. The construction works lasted several years. It was 200 meters long and equipped with 7 different-sized discharge arches, where the highest arch reached up to 20 meters from the riverbed.
Likely, the largest Ottoman bridge built in the country until the early 19th century, before other arches were added to the Mesi Bridge.
The Vizier’s Bridge became the main connecting hub of trade routes during the Pashaliks era, such as the Shkodra-Prizren, Shkodra-Gjakova routes, after the expansion of Bushati authority into territories previously known as the dominions of the Begollajs of Peja.
In her memories, Edith Durham writes: “The Vizier’s Bridge, a magnificent bridge with seven arches, all different, but the overall effect was amazing. It is a work of a great artist, because nothing more harmonized can be imagined, with the panorama around”.
In 1914, Serbian forces, in their invading march towards Albania, followed by Austro-Hungarian armies, mined and partially destroyed it, making it impassable. In 1978, it was completely destroyed with dynamite, as a result of the construction of Lake and Fierza hydroelectric power plant.
The photo brought by the Shkodra Regional Directorate of Cultural Heritage was taken by Ernst Jackh in 1910.
