Roman bridge in Kumanica
In village Kumanica, on 16th km southwest from Ivanjica, on the road to mountain Golija and near the ancient mill on the river, there is an old stone bridge across the river Moravica. River Moravica is more precisely West Morava in its upper flow through Ivanjica and closer to mountain Golija, formed with two springs, one from the peak of Golija, Jankov kamen, and the other, so-called The Spring of Pasa, down the slopes of Golija. Starting from village Jasenovica and on, both springs are forming river Golija, that is flowing down to Roman bridge. From that landmark and on, the river is called Moravica. Smaller rivers, like Nosnica in village Medjurecje, are flowing into waters of Moravica also. The old bridge over the upper flow of the river is a part of the old, pedestrian road to Sjenica (Sandzak), through villages Medjurecje and Bratljevo. In front of and behind the bridge, the traces of this ancient road, with sharp curves and high ups are located alongside the banks of river Moravica.
Narrow riverbed of the mountain river Moravica was bridged with this remarkable, semicircular single arch bridge, carried on quite slightly exposed abutments supported by rocky river sides. The river sides of Moravica are mostly made of clay slates, while quite dark clay slates on soil surfaces are partially used in the bridge construction. Minor part of the front wall, together with arch fronts, was made of broken stones, firmly fixed to the vault of the bridge. In some places there are pieces of boulders as well. The other, much greater part of the bridge construction is composed of rocky slates, greater pieces of rocky boards, geological content of the local area, practically found everywhere in that place. For different types of materials used, it is considered that the bridge was built during different periods.
On the upriver side of the bridge, by the bridge pillar on the right side of the river bank, there are relics of initially built bridge beak, a kind of protective wall, with a purpose to redirect eventual floods of Morava under the bridge arch, providing a kind of dam protecting the vertical wall wing of the bridge. Similiar to this one, there are another relics, yet mostly inapplicable, by the bridge abutment on the left upriver side, built for the bridge protection on the left side. The arch of the bridge, with its parallel wall wings abutments, are forming the side pillars of the bridge.
Roman bridge is 2,40 m wide, matching the width of the road. The total lenght of the bidge with the abutments is aproximately 14 m, with its arch the bridge is 6,72 m wide and 4 m high. Nowdays this bridge is used for pedestians only, together with the spring of little mountain paths. One of the paths is leading to village Ercege.
It is quite impossible to find out with certainty when the bridge in Kumanica was built who built it. Yet, undoubtedly, this is skillfully crafted and rather astonishing masterpeace, with unusually proportional and slander lines. It belongs to the group of beautiful bridges dating back to turkish period.
The bridge arch is quite similiar to the only bridge preserved on Uvac river. Regarding the building technique, it might has been built in the same period when bridges in Prizren were built, during XV century. In tradition of locals, it is called The Roman Bridge, despite there are no relics in the bridge dating back to roman period. However, considering the very fact that there was an old road here, the shortcut between Serbia and Sandzak, we might assume that there was a roman bridge on the same place, since the memories of the old roman road are still alive among people living in these areas. This bridge used to be the shortcut for trade caravans going to Sandzak long time ago.
Nowdays, on almost deserted place, partially covered with green vegetation sheltering the bridge like a natural part of the landscape, this beautiful bridge is real refreshment and everlasting sight of an unobtrusive bridge in the center of breathtaking landscape.
