Belgrade is a great and charming city with a traditional old and modern aspect at the same time.That Balkan beauty situated in a splendid geographic positions at the Sava and Danube rivers junction which give that enchanting European Capital much more charm combined with its several artistic and monumental attractions.
The Serbian city will leave you amazed for its captivating cultural and historic patrimony and furthermore surrounded by a vibrant atmosphere.Walking for Belgrade is very interesting and attractive because on every corner of the city you will admire a rich and relevant architectonic mixture of different styles,old Orthodox Churches with impressive Byzantine domes,rests of the Ottoman structures,liberty and neoclassic buildings,
that city capital of the former Republic of Yugoslavia is a cocktail of the refined classy Central Europe,former civilisations and the creativity of Serbian artists who have embellished Belgrade in the course of its history with large monumental squares,imposing palaces and stylish modern districts,a city absolutely all to discover and enjoy.
The Serbian city will leave you amazed for its captivating cultural and historic patrimony and furthermore surrounded by a vibrant atmosphere.Walking for Belgrade is very interesting and attractive because on every corner of the city you will admire a rich and relevant architectonic mixture of different styles,old Orthodox Churches with impressive Byzantine domes,rests of the Ottoman structures,liberty and neoclassic buildings,
that city capital of the former Republic of Yugoslavia is a cocktail of the refined classy Central Europe,former civilisations and the creativity of Serbian artists who have embellished Belgrade in the course of its history with large monumental squares,imposing palaces and stylish modern districts,a city absolutely all to discover and enjoy.
Belgrade and its Stari Grad (the old city) will transport you in the past in a walk through its narrow street with its traditional taverns and fine restaurants,modern and elegant boulevards,attractive and romantic places along the shores of the Danube and Sava which offers stunning panoramic views,day and night,in addition aa lively and vibrant nightlife.Discover that Eastern European metropolis is of course a great experience because it is also a city of many contrasts,Belgrade is a city you have to love and Belgrade will love you,many are the reasons,simply changing districts one close to another this city offers a wide panoramic view of a cosmopolitan centre,result of several rulers and artistic schools,a place which created cultural movements all that will transmit you very special sensations and vibrations,when you discover something you want to explore another and the city as a key opens you a multitude of doors.
The current name Belgrade appeared for the first time around the year 1000 and it was noted in the chronicles of the Crusades as a point of passage to Palestine and Jerusalem.The name in Serbian language is Beograd or Beligrad which means White City.The origin of that name derives from a city fortress built near the the river called Beli Grad Beli or Beo which means white while the word Grad as in many Slavic languages means City.
That Balkan centre was for long time the last bastion against the Turkish invasion in Europe which culminated in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389.After a long Ottoman domination in 1878 the Congress of Berlin recognised the independence of Serbia and the neighbouring Montenegro.The two current states participated in an alliance in the 1912-1913 Balkan War against Bulgaria and Turkey,an event which was a sort of pioneer design and project of a possible unification of the two Kingdoms, however blocked by Austro-Hungary Empire,which had long sought to expand its domain and influence in the Balkans.
The oldest remains in the redeveloped historic centre of Belgrade are from the period,linked to the Roman rule,established when the Empire occupied a territory probably previously settled by some Celtic tribes living along the two rivers in the 3rd century BC and called Singidunum.The former town lived over the centuries different domination of Byzantine, Bulgarian,Serbian and Hungarian until the 16th century with the advent of the Turkish occupation in 1521 when Serbia and Belgrade fell under Ottoman influence.
Between the 17th and 18th century Belgrade was repeatedly plundered by the Turkish rulers,who were forced to relax its grip on the Balkans,only since the year 1841 the year of the release,marked the birth of the Principality of Serbia,renamed Kingdom of Serbia in 1882. Between 1918 and 1991, Belgrade was the capital of the Kingdom of Serbian,Croatian and Slovenian after the 1st World War and of the former Republic of Yugoslavia after the 2nd World War.
Belgrade is located at that magnificent picturesque confluence of the Sava and Danube, where the land meets the Balkan Peninsula of Pannonia not far from the Hungarian borders.The city is just like a magic coffer you have to open it and then enjoy the several lovely and pleasant surprises it offers.
The current capital of Serbia,,has approximately 2,500.000 of inhabitants considering the Greater Beograd,the major part of its inhabitants are Serbian but with several ethnic groups living in its territory such as,Montenegrin,Croatian,Romanian,Bulgarian,Macedonians,Albanians,Gypsies Rom and a a minority of Hungarian and Russian,all them give Belgrade a very cosmopolitan aspect,you will discover that strolling the city streets,with several ethnic restaurants,in the markets,you can find Russian traders and Macedonian farmers selling their products,the Montenegrin are culturally and historically "brothers" of Serbian although the recent separation of Serbia and Montenegro.
Belgrade is today an important centre,the city manage the 70% of Serbian economy,business and trade operations,trade,furthermore it is an important site with a University of excellent reputation and relevant centre of research,development,science and technology.
You can start the visit of the city from an emblematic place of Belgrade, Kalemegdan, the most beautiful park in Belgrade and also the largest.That park is not only a simple park for the locals,it is for all Belgrade people what is Hyde Park for Londoners,Parco del Pincio for the Romans,Central Park for New York inhabitants and Gorki Park for Moskow people.That immense green space is also history,social life,meeting point for young people and the right place for families to spend a lovely weekend,furthermore it is also an iconic symbol and national pride, because it is the place where was erected the fortress of Kalemegdan symbol of the resistance against the Ottoman attacks during centuries.
Kalemegdan Belgrade Fortress called Beogradska Tvrdjava (fortress of Belgrade) is located in a very strategic position in the middle of that huge park overlooking the Danube and Sava and although it is not located in the geographical centre,many people of Belgrade considers it the historic core for its significant past and importance.That fortress was built over the rest of an ancient Roman Castrum destroyed by the Huns after the conquest of the former Singidunum.The current building was erected by the Slavs and it is also considered a sort of border,a frontier dividing the city in two sections which you can call High city and Lower City something similar to the Castle of Prague with the famous Hradcany.At evening during the week apart some people walking and some groups of young people,that huge park is a big oasis of peace and the Ottomans called it Fichir Bair which means in Turkish hill of meditation.
The Despot Gate is probably the best preserved and the most important door of the defencive complex and it was also the main entrance of the fortress.Erected in the 15th century,the name derives from the famous historic figure Stjepan Lazarevic well known as the Despot,that entrance corresponded as passage about visits of Generals,Colonels and Politicians visiting the troops and the area next to it currently hosts an astronomical observatory.
Some years later another imposing gate was built and called Zindan consisting in a big wall flanked by two impressive towers with a complex of batteries of artillery and guns.The name is pretty curious,a little bit sad,gloomy and somber,in fact Zindan means underground cell and it was the place where prisoners suffered tortures.The gate called Stambol is a majestic tower built using big stoned blocks,it was used for different operations,as check point,arsenal,store of gunpowder and prison in that case another thing in common with the famous tower Daliborska of Prague close to the Hradcany Castle which was exactly used for the same purposes..During Austro -Hungarian occupation,the Emperor Franz Joseph ordered to build a well in the 18th century which permitted to have drinking water directly in the fortress and supplying the troops without the need to transport that vital resource from other areas to the fortress.
Next to the gate which leads to the lower city there is a beautiful fountain that bears the name of the Vizier Mehmed Pasha Sokolović.That Ottoman Vizier was a Serb born in Bosnia kidnapped when he was as a child in Sokolovici a town of Eastern Bosnia Herzegovina,he received in Istanbul a military education,he was Imperial Guard,General and Admiral of the Ottoman Empire reaching later the title of Pasha and Vizier. Sokolovic came back to the Balkans as enemy and invader and conquered the country. Overlooking the south gate of the high city stands a clock tower dated mid of 18th century and from its summit you can enjoy a great view of Belgrade absolutely magnificent.
The so called Lower City was a sort a defencive prolongation of Kalemegdan,along the bank of the river Sava and it was fortified with walls reaching the banks of the old Belgrade harbour.That walled complex had several restorations in different periods and the highlight is called Nebojsa,which is a big tower pretty famous because it was conquered in a battle after a long local defence by the Ottomans.In the 60s under Tito former president of the former Yugoslavia,the authorities and the institutions related to the Yugoslavian Historic patrimony decided to restore that old tower pretty deteriored and today it shows a lovely aspect, furthermore,you can admire in the building a beautiful Haman aTurkish bath built in the 18th century still pretty well preserved.
In Kalemegdan Park you can also see many interesting monuments which wrote the history and important pages of the Serbian Capital such as The Monument of Gratitude to France erected by Ivan Mestrovic in 1930 honouring the support France gave Serbia during the 1st World War,another highlight is The Memorial of the keys of the fortress of Belgrade built on the the place where in 1867, the Ottoman Sultan gave the keys of the fortress to the Serbian Prince Mihailo Obrenovic and the statue of Prince Mihailo Obrenović considered symbol of liberation from Ottomans erected in 1882 by the Florentine sculptor Enrico Pazzi. The Park also houses the Art Pavilion Cvijeta Zuzoric,the Belgrade Zoo and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Belgrade.
Concerning Belgrade architecture,there are many so significant and popular in the city, the most captivating are undoubedtly those from the first half of the 19th century.The earlier buildings,except for the beautiful ruins of the walls and the Ottoman Citadel,went tragically destroyed in many wars which plagued Belgrade during its history.Many of the 19th Century constructions were erected over pre-existing Turkish Mosques,Islamic schools totally deleted by urban plans drawn up after the liberation.
Among the most attractive constructions are situated in Kosancicev Venac a neighbourhood which houses buildings of Austrian inspiration and the magnificent Saborna Crkva Svetog Arhangela Mihaila the Cathedral dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel finished in 1837 according to a classical style and decorated with Baroque details.That beautiful Orthodox Cathedral is one of the most attractive Churches in in the Balkans and it is also place where the relics of Serbian saints,tombs of famous people and rulers lies inside it.Its interior is richly decorated with gold and it is the work of several artists from Serbia,for its value in architecture,interior details is one of the most visited religious temples in the Balkans.
About the early 20th century most important buildings are the Narodna Skupstina the Parliament of Serbia,a majestic palace built in 1907 and,Crkva Svetog Marka the Church of St.Mark erected between 1931 and 1940 in Neo-Byzantine style, inspired by the famous Monastery of Gracanica,.
The most majestic building is anyway Hram Svetog Save,the Temple of Saint Sava, which is the largest Orthodox church in the world.The temple stands in a place where, according to history,were reported by Milseseva Monastery with the relics of St. Sava burned by the Ottoman Sinan Pasha.The construction works were interrupted by the bombing at the beginning of the 1st World War and only resumed in 1985.
The most majestic building is anyway Hram Svetog Save,the Temple of Saint Sava, which is the largest Orthodox church in the world.The temple stands in a place where, according to history,were reported by Milseseva Monastery with the relics of St. Sava burned by the Ottoman Sinan Pasha.The construction works were interrupted by the bombing at the beginning of the 1st World War and only resumed in 1985.
Next to that important religious temple you can enjoy a walk in Vracar which is a very interesting area, just off Slavija Square and characterised by narrow streets lined by houses and small buildings among the oldest in the city with numerous restaurants and bars and with a vibrant atmosphere.
Belgrade is also famous to be home of many important museums.The most visited is undoubtedly theNarodni Muzej the National Museum of Serbia, housed in a building erected in 1844, which displays over 410.000 works consisting in paintings,sculptures and archaeological finds from the Middle Ages to the present day.If you are fond about art you can not miss to visit it.One of the most valuable pieces displayed is the famous Miroslav Gospel, a work of religious character by Vladimir Stasov, Fyodor Buslaev and Nikodim Kondakov.
Other important exhibition are the Vojni Muzej the Museum of Military History,which houses approximately 25.000 military items ranging from Roman times to the years of World War II, while the Beograd Muzej the Museum of the City of Belgrade contains a rich archaeological section with nearly 300 pieces,an emblematic exhibition to illustrate the birth and the formation of the city,worth a mention also the Air Force Museum,if you are interested about planes of that kind,in that site are displayed about 200 magnificent aircrafts many of which are for sale.
The Etnografski Muzej is the Ethnographic Museum of Belgrade, opened in 1901 with more than 150.000 pieces about the history of the Balkans and if you love modern art the Muzej Savremene Umetnosti is the Museum of Contemporary Art,which houses works from the early 20th century until today.
Another interesting exhibition is the Nikola Tesla Muzej (Nikola Tesla Museum), inaugurated in 1952, which preserves documents and artifacts related to the life,works and profession of the famous scientist Nikola Tesla
If you are fond about literature,books,it is very interesting the Ivo Andric Muzej.That museum is completely dedicated to the memory of the great Serbian writer and Nobel Prize, Ivo Andric, created to offer visitors an authentic environment in which Andric spent his life and highlights of his artistic biography.The museum contains many documents as university cards,diplomas,passports, photographs,but also the Nobel Prize and the Vuk Prize and it is a place where you can see some original manuscripts and volumes by the artist translated into several languages.
When you are in Belgrade is a must a walk along Ulica Knez Mihailova which is the pedestrian area where are concentrated the most representative buildings of the city,a a kind of "Belle Epoque"French boulevard in Belgrade.In that area there are the most fashionable stores selling some of most popular Italian fashion brands as Armani,Versace and Dolce & Gabbana.The building at the civic number 56 is now home to the Library of the City of Belgrade but originally it was one of the most beautiful Hotels of the era of Neo-romanticism style in Serbia, the Kruna Srpska which translated means the Serbian Crown.
In that area you can enjoy a pleasant visit in a district called Dorcol which covers the area between the street Ulica Knez Mihailova and the river Danube,a place packed by popular bars,pubs and restaurants and it is one of the oldest residential areas with many buildings have kept their original architecture.
Another place you can not miss absolutely is Skadarlija (I wrote a post about it).It is a bohemian street which emanates charm and a captivating aspect,a street but it can be considered a sort of district because Skadarlija historically was an independent municipality before to be incorporated in the city.That cobblestone street approximately half kilometre long with buildings mainly dated the 19th century is nicknamed the Montmartre of Belgrade,it is the core of the artists,where many lives and lived,a very bohemian space,meeting point of writers,poets,musicians,and one of the favourite sites to visit and frequent cosy restaurants and taverns by prominent foreign figures.
The Renaissance-style buildings by the numbers 53-55 houses an art gallery while the block of houses which are located at the civic number 46-48-50 represent the first example of building in style Balkan being the same style of Renaissance.At Skadarlija you can enjoy the Starogradska (literally Old Town Music), with concerts of traditional music which accompanies the dinners in cosy and captivating restaurants which are the oldest and most famous of the city.Skadarlija
became a popular tourist attraction, thanks to its proximity to the
National Theatre and Opera, as well as an auditorium in the current
Balkan Cinema.With the demolition of the Dardaneli Tavern in 1901,all the local artists and the new coming to live in the Serbian city moved there for its special atmosphere,Skadarlija is something you can not miss,it is a landmark unique in its kind.
Remaining in theme of charming streets do not miss a pleasant walk in Ulica Kralja Petra which is one of the oldest streets of Belgrade and where once there were an ancient Church and the baths and the Roman Forum,where we now among other things, the seat of the Patriarchate of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Outside of the city centre,you can visit Zemun district, particularly known for its Sibinjanin Janko the Millennium Tower,from there you can enjoy a great overview of entire Zemun and Belgrade.That tower is one of the 5 erected by Hungarians to mark the empire,heritage of the former Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy,it represented the most southern point of that Royalty at the end of 19th century in Europe.Next to the tower is situated the old cemetery and in that area at a short distance you can have a pleasant and relaxing walk along the banks of the inspiring Danube.
Belgrade also has its hills and Dedinje is one of them.A beautiful place also to admire the Royal Palace built between 1924 and 1929, from the private assets of King Alexander I Karadjordjevic.The building is a sort of large villa erected using white marble and showing a relevant Serbian-Byzantine architectonic style and around that mansion overlooking pergolas,ponds,pavilions there is also a terrace great for the celebrations of events and concerts.From the Palace which lies on top of the hill,with a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere with the magnificent forests Kosutnjak Tocider and the view of the Mount Avala you can have a very lovely break enjoying a very pleasant corner of the Serbian Capital.
The building named White Palace, which is located in the same complex together with the Royal Palace, was erected for desire of Alexander I in the period between 1934 and 1937.In Dedinje you can also visit Kuca Cveća which translated means the House of flowers,it is there where you can see the monumental mausoleum in which lies the former Yugoslavia´s leader Marshal Tito alias Josip Broz president of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1953 to 1980.
The name house of flowers derives from the presence that many flowers were laid on the tomb of the former president and furthermore the area where the mausoleum lies is also known as flower shop because the Marshal used there an office with a beautiful indoor garden plenty of flowers.The complex also hosts a museum which contains the largest collection of gifts and presents Tito receieved during his many official visits abroad.Actually there is a dispute between Serbia and Croatia about that mausoleum.Croatia has proposed the arrangement of the body of Tito in Kumrovec, hometown of the former Yugoslavian President, where there is already a monument and his family home.
In the municipality of Cukarica there is Ada Ciganlija, an island on the Sava River with its artificial lake along which there are 9,0 kilometres of beaches,it is also a place where people can enjoy several sports like golf, football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, baseball or tennis.Belgrade is very famous for Sports events and to have important Sport Institutions.Two clubs of the city,the Crvena Zvezda Beograd (Red Star Belgrade) and FKPartizan Beograd are two glorious clubs and formed international football stars such as Dragan Dzajic,Ivan Curkovic,Predrag Mijatovic,Dejan Savicevic Savicevic,Sinisa Mihajlovic,Dragan Stojkovic,Robert Prosinecki,Vladimir Jugovic to mention some of the most successful but also formed excellent Basket Players as Divac,Danilovic,Paspalj and Rebraca among others and distinguished Water polo players played and play in the most important international leagues,the same in volley and about tennis also the champion Novak Djokovic is from Belgrade.
The city is home of the busiest airport in Serbia,the Nikola Tesla International Airport, located approximayely at 13,0 kilometres from the urban centre.Belgrade provides a very good network of public transports managed by GSP Beograd, which has developed 12 tramways,trolley buses lines and 8 bus lines with over 100 vehicles.Rail transport is instead managed by Zeleznice Srbije,( the Railways of Serbia), which allows daily connections with all major Serbian cities.Very important is also the key transport Danube route every day used by many commercial ships and also designated to transport passengers.
Eating in Belgrade costs relatively little compared to some Western European Capitals, the local cuisine is based on freshwater fish and meat and there are many good soups.Do not miss some delicious plates such as the traditional Gibanica and Burek and the excellent Sarma cabbage,meat and sauerkraut wrapped in Serbian style,that is a traditional plate very common in other countries of the Balkans as Croatia, Bosnia, Bulgaria,Macedonia,Romania,including in Slovenia.Other specialities are the Prebranac cooked Serbian beans and also try the typical Cevapcici a plate consisting of grilled meat with chips or potatoes and vegetables.Local beers are very good and you can taste cool Jelen Pivo or a MB.
People from Belgrade is really very kind if you need some information about to suggest you places to visit and pride to tell you some information more,furthermore,it is great to meet so many people speaking several foreign languages such as English,German,French, Italian,Russian or Spanish..
Nightlife in Belgrade is very lively and great with several venues offering Live music,a wide variety of ethnic restaurants,a thousand of little lights lit colours which reflect in the dark on the waters of the Danube and Sava are undoubedtly something more to add to the scenery,Belgrade is to live and enjoy day and night.There are many places to go in Stari Grad,Zemun,Novi Beograd,some names are Bieter Art Café,Kasina Bar,Club Magacin, Acapulco,Andergtound Klub,the Three Carrots Pub,the list is very long and the city offers so many places to go out.
Belgrade is a shining and splendid Capital of the Balkans,you will spend a fantastic stay in that stunning city a place which will embrace you offering you,several things offers,a great destination unique in its kind, ,immediately you will notice that,try to believe and visit Belgrade.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Belgrade
Hotel Hyatt Regency Belgrade
Hotel Zira
Hotel Le Petit Piaf
Life Design Hotel
hotel Townhouse 27
Hotel Zlatnik
Hotel Belgrade Art
Hotel Moskva
Hotel Palace
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