Kriva Ćuprija (Crooked Bridge) and Radobolja Stream

Kriva Ćuprija, the Crooked Bridge, is a small single-arch Ottoman stone bridge over the Radobolja stream in the old town of Mostar, in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It lies a short walk from Stari Most, among the lanes of the historic quarter, and is often described as a model or forerunner of the larger bridge over the Neretva. The Radobolja is a narrow, clear tributary that runs past old stone mills and watermills, small cafés and terraces before joining the Neretva, and the bridge crosses it in a graceful, slightly asymmetrical arc. The structure was damaged by floods in the past and restored, and is now a quiet corner compared with the crowds on the main bridge. Visitors mostly come to photograph the arch reflected in the stream, to sit at a riverside café terrace and to follow the water along the footpath beside the old mills. There is no ticket and no opening hours, since the bridge and the surrounding lanes are public spaces open around the clock. A visit takes 20 to 30 minutes, although many people linger longer at a terrace table with coffee. The area is calmest early in the morning and in the evening, when the stone lights up softly and day-trippers have left. Midday brings more groups passing through from the nearby Kujundžiluk bazaar. The best photo angles are from the stream bank looking at the arch, and from the terraces along the water, where the bridge, the stream and the stone houses make a compact scene. The ground beside the stream is uneven, with cobbles, steps and wet stone in places, so sturdy shoes are advisable. Combined with Koski Mehmed-Pasha Mosque and Stari Most, the bridge makes an easy loop of the old town that can be covered on foot in half a day.