On the left shore of the river Arachthos stands the old plane tree. It is approximately 350 years old and has a circumference of almost 14 meters. Stone columns support its massive branches. The infamous Ali Pasha of Ioannina, the ambitious and cruel governor of a large part of western Greece, used to sit in the shade of the tree and enjoy the view of the bodies of executed men that hung from the branches. Since the bridge was one of Arta’s most busy and frequented thoroughfares, it made sense that condemned men should be executed here for all to see. A popular tradition claims that the tree lamented the presence of the bloodthirsty tyrant that used to fire his pistol into its very heart.