Cretans watched in despair last week live on local television the collapse of the historic bridge over the Keriti River, near Chania, following the floods that hit the Greek island.
The bridge which was built in 1908 and is a local landmark, tumbled to the ground as overflowing river flood waters smashed into it.
The bridge over the river Keritis near the village of Alikianos was made of stone, three-arched and fairly majestic.
It was built by the inhabitants of Alikianos in 1908 to link the lowland villages and the neighborhoods of the village. It is relatively narrow, as it was built to serve the needs of the early 20th century and has now been proclaimed as a modern monument by the Archaeological Service.
The bridge was a place of martyrdom for the locals, in the period of German occupation and on the 1st of August in 1941, 108 men from the surrounding villages were executed there.
Across the bridge of the river Keritis, is a monument that is a reminder of the Nazi atrocities and the strength of the Cretan people to survive.
Now the historic bridge lies in ruins as seen in the following video. The Greek government has vowed to rebuild it.
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