Bridges of Epirus inspire an international academic partnership

Stone-built, arched, proud or overgrown with weeds, the bridges of Epirus in northwestern Greece have carried thousands of stories of movement on their backs. Specifically, for the residents of the municipality of Pogoni, these bridges are not only linked to the general movement of the population but also to a word that carries heavy emotional weight: "xenitia" or Greek immigration. This is a timelessly painful issue, as over the years, the remaining residents have seen their villages empty.

For Stylianos Koukoularis, deputy mayor of Pogoni, showcasing the local bridges has both practical and symbolic significance. As he tells Kathimerini, the bridges of Pogoni, whether ornate or plain, demonstrate the desire of previous generations to connect with the rest of the country. "For us, they are an extension of our nature and land. Historically, however, they symbolize our...