Constantine, the city of suspension bridges in Algeria

If you are fascinated by the beauty of the floating city of Venice, Italy, you will inevitably fall in love with the city of Constantine. Constantine is a city with civilizations dating back more than 2,500 years, so it is a historical tapestry that some of its critics date back to prehistoric times. The city was founded by the Phoenician merchants, then it became the capital of the Berbers, then a Roman city, then Islam entered, then Ottoman rule, and then the French occupation, and now it is an authentic Arab city. The city of Constantine is a historical panorama, and it is built entirely on a rocky cliff, and the Valley of the Sand cuts it into two parts, so there is an impossibility to move inside it on foot, so suspension bridges were built to connect the city's sides.

The city of Constantine is famous for many names such as the "city of ancient rock" where the city stands entirely on the rock. It was also called the "City of Suspension Bridges" or "Suspension City", as its sides are connected by bridges, when you look at them you will feel that they are suspended in the sky. It is a rare sight that you will not see anywhere else in the world. Poets also called it "the city of air and air" due to its pleasant atmosphere throughout the year, the gentleness of the character of its people and the spread of green cover of orchards and trees on its land, which purifies its passion and sends an inspiring feeling in the soul of its visitors. Its modern name "Constantine or Constantinople of Algeria" derives from the names of the Roman Emperor Constantine, who rebuilt the city after it was demolished by the Byzantines.

The city of Constantine has a cultural and religious character due to the influx of different civilizations and religions on its land, so it was undisputed named Capital of Arab Culture in 2015, and the celebration of its selection included several cultural events and events. The city gives its people a sense of pride and pride for its position among other cities in the world, so its people, who exceeded one million, welcome visitors from all countries of the world to proudly share the charm of their city.

Suspension bridges in the city of Constantine

8 bridges were built in multiple times to facilitate transportation on the island and standing over those bridges gives you a panoramic view of the city to enjoy seeing its landmarks. The Sidi Messid Bridge is a sky-kissing edifice built by the French and is the highest at 175 meters. As for the Sidi Rached bridge, it is named after one of the saints and his mausoleum under the bridge.

The oldest bridge in the city is the Bab al-Qantara Bridge built by the Turks, and the rest of the bridges are small, such as the Devil's Bridge, which connects the two banks of Wadi al-Rimal and from which you can see the valley. The most pompous among the bridges is the Waterfalls Bridge, under which the waters of Wadi al-Sand are waterfalls. Due to the abundance of water in Wadi Al-Rimal, there is a proposed project to purify it until it turns into huge aquariums. If you think about walking on one of the bridges to experience breathtaking views, the elevator bridge is your choice, as it is an iron bridge built for pedestrians only that you can walk on and enjoy the striking view of the city.

Historical and heritage monuments in the city of Constantine

The city of Constantine, Algeria, stands on time-defying panoramic historical landmarks such as the city's Stone Age tombs, Roman arches and the 19th-century Bey Palace with impressive Islamic architecture. As for the remnants of the occupation, there is still the train station and the French theater, both of which are built with distinctive French architecture.

The city is also characterized by the architecture of its mosques, the most prominent of which is the Prince Abdul Qadir Mosque, which is the largest mosque in North Africa with its two minarets, which address the clouds with their height of 107 meters. The architecture of the mosque is Andalusian, a mixture of Algerian, Moroccan and Egyptian architects and can accommodate 15,000 worshipers. The city's truly diverse architecture is a moral and aesthetic heritage and is considered a witness to all those who passed by it and contributed to its construction.

An integral part of the heritage of the city of Constantine is the craft markets. When you visit the city, you will notice the spread of specialized markets on its territory, there is a spinning market with products embroidered with gold threads, the blacksmiths market for its fame for copper, the butchers' market and other specialized markets. Each deals with a single commodity or craft.

The city of Constantine is famous as the city of scholars and thinkers, where many scientists, thinkers and writers belong, including Ahlam Mostangmani, the famous Algerian novelist who won the Naguib Mahfouz Prize, a literary award granted to modern novels. It is not difficult to imagine this when seeing the charm of the city that hugs the clouds that life on its land is a cradle of creativity and contemplation and not forgetting the city's fame for Andalusian music.