But the greatest splendour of that sky above Belgrade, that are the sunsets. In autumn and in summer, they are broad and bright like desert mirages, and in winter they are smothered by murky clouds and dark red hazes. And in every time of year frequently come the days when the flame of that sun setting in the plain, between the rivers beneath Belgrade, gets reflected way up in the high celestial dome, and it breaks there and pours down over the scattered town. Then, for a moment, the reddish tint of the sun paints even the remotest corners of Belgrade and reflects into the windows, even of those houses it otherwise poorly illuminates."
Written about Belgrade by: Ivo Andrić, Serbian Nobel prize laureate
Belgrade (Beograd) is the capital of Serbia, and has a population of around 1.6 million. It is situated in South-Eastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe and has since ancient times been an important focal point for traffic, an intersection of the roads of Eastern and Western Europe. Belgrade is the capital of Serbian culture, education, science and economy. As a result of its tumultuous history, Belgrade has for centuries been home to many nationalities, with Serbs of the Orthodox Christian religion making up the majority of the population (90%). The official language is Serbian, while visitors from abroad can use English to communicate.
There are spots in Belgrade you must definitely see and feel. Streets, squares, monuments, parks, drinking fountains, archeological sites... and other sights that deserve recommendation. Many of them have been given the status of cultural assets. In the inner area of the City of Belgrade there are over 5,500 streets, 16 plazas and 32 squares. The oldest streets that have retained their original routes are: Vase Čarapića, Kralja Petra, Cara Dušana, Jevrejska, Narodnog fronta, Gavrila Principa, and Karađorđeva Streets. The development of the street network started in 1867, after the Turks had departed, when the regulatory plan of Belgrade was adopted, which had been drawn up by engineer Emilijan Josimović. In the territories of the 10 City municipalities, the oldest is the Student Square, and the most famous one is the Republic Square.
In the territory of the City, there are 39 public drinking fountains that are supplied with drinking water from the Belgrade Water Company. Apart from them, 5 drinking fountains were constructed on the springs. In the territory of the City, there are 18 fountains out of which, the fountains on Nikole Pašića Square and the Republic Square stand out for their size and decoration, as well as the fountain in front of "Intercontinental" Hotel. As of 1959, the very center of the City, Bezistan is decorated with the fountain "Woman with a shell". The first fountain was constructed in 1927, on Terazije nearby the tram loop that was there at the time, but it was removed in 1947, when that square was reconstructed.
The first public monument in Belgrade was erected in 1848, at today's Karađorđev park, and dedicated to the heroes of the First Serbian Insurrection died in 1806 during the conquest of Belgrade. The monument was erected by Knez Aleksandar Karađorđević.
At the squares and parks of Belgrade, in 10 inner-city municipalities, 192 monumentshave been erected and 237 sculptures have been placed. There are 70 monuments and sculptures placed in suburban municipalities.
There are almost 300 cultural monumentswithin the territory of Belgrade, among which 57 are of utmost and significant importance for the culture of Serbia and Belgrade. Three spatial cultural-historical ensembles (Knez Mihajlova Street, Topčider and area around Dositej’s Boarding School and the archaeological finds Belo Brdo in Vinča have been proclaimed the values of extraordinary importance, and three spatial ensembles (Gročanski bazaar - Bulevar Oslobođenja, Kosančićev Venac, old nucleus of Zemun) and two remarkable locations (Bojčin’s Forest and Commemorative Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators 1806) of great importance for the culture. The institutions for protection are responsible for some twenty archaeological finds throughout the City area.
As for the facilities proclaimed natural treasures, the ones of major importance are: Belgrade Fortress, Saint Archangel Michael Cathedral Church, Thumb of the Unknown Soldier on Avala, Monument at the death spot of despot Stefan Lazarević (Crkvine near Mladenovac), Cemetery of Belgrade Liberators, late Roman Tomb in Brestovik, Log-built church in Vranić, Birth Home of Voivode Stepa Stepanović, Palace of the Duchess Ljubica, Captain Miša’s Edifice. The beauty of Belgrade squares and public gardens in ten town municipalities is supplemented by 192 monuments and 237 sculptures. About 70 monuments and works of sculpture are located in the outlaying municipalities.
Among the protected natural values there also are Banjica’s Forest, the nestling spot of over 70 species of birds, "Maša’s Mine" near Summer Stage in Topčider (geological set layer from the upper Cretaous Age), "Myocene’s sand-shelf" at Tašmajdan and "Sea Neogene’s sandbank" underneath the “Liberator” Monument on Kalemegdan, representing the remnants of the Mediterranean basin of Pannonian Sea.
Memorial natural monuments are: Bojčin’s forest within the area of Zemun and the Arched Ash Tree in the Šopići village near Lazarevac (Šopići’s Grove). Veliko ratno ostrvo (Big War Island) on the Danube, the habitat of rare and endangered birds of marsh and the representative morphological and geological formation, is under the protection of the government.
The first human settlements on Belgrade soil developed as far back as 7000 years ago. This is borne out by numerous archaeological sites with material evidence, ranging from the culture of the Old Stone Age and other prehistoric cultures, to the Middle Ages. The sites are not arranged for visitors, and the material remnants are for the most part kept in the National Museum.
Vinča, 14 km away from Belgrade on the way to Grocka, is a prehistoric tell on the very bank of the Danube, with the remnants of the material culture of the prehistoric man (the Neolithic plastics). In the caves in Bele vode there were found skeletons of the Neanderthal man. The most widespread culture in the territory of Europe at the time is called after the site in Vinča.
In the territory of Grocka there are the sites: Agino brdo (the Neolithic), Dubočaj, and Brestovik (the Roman period). In the territory of Surčin, nearby Jakovo, there is Kormadin, where the artefacts from the Late Neolithic were found. On the way to Avala, in Šuplja stena, there were discovered the prehistoric mining pits and, in Mt. Avala, a medieval stronghold made of stone, the hill-fort Žrnov.
In the territories of Karaburma and Rospi ćuprija, there were dug quite well preserved Celtic tombs. The Roman thermae found in the University Park on Studentski trg (Students’ Square), are the remnants of a Roman civilian settlement. The remnants of a Roman settlement were also discovered in the Lower Town on Kalemegdan – Mithra’s holy shrine with the sacrificial altar and small thermae.
The most beautiful and biggest park in Belgrade, which is also the most important cultural and historical complex, in which the Belgrade Fortress stands high above the Sava and Danube confluence. The name Kalemegdan applies only to the spacious plateau surrounding the Fortress, which was turned into a park in the eighties of the XIX century. When the Fortress served as Belgrade's chief military stronghold, the plateau was a place from which the enemy was kept under observation and where preparations were made for combats. Its name derives from the Turkish words kale (fort) and megdan (field). The Turks also called it Fichir-bair, which means "the contemplation hill".
Its conversion into a park began by Prince Mihailo Obrenović's order, once the Fortress was surrendered to the Serbs (1867). The conceptual designs were made by Emilijan Josimović, the first Serbian urbanist. The greenery was planted between 1873 and 1875, when the commanding officer of the Fortress was Colonel Dragutin Žabarac, who was an aide-de-camp to Prince Miloš Obrenović during his second rule.
The planned development of Kalemegdan began in 1890, when the military authorities handed the park over to the Belgrade civilian authorities. The mayor of Belgrade at that time, Nikola Pašić, approved the first credit amounting to 10,000 dinars for the regulation of Kalemegdan. In 1905, the park was expanded with the development of Mali (small) Kalemegdan, which spreads from the Cvijeta Zuzorić Art Pavilion to the Zoo.
And now what you must to know if you come to Belgrade.
Currency in Belgrade is Serbian Dinar. (RSD)
Where to go to eat :
In the center of Belgrade in the part of town known as Skadarlija, which is known as a bohemian quarter and unmistakable place, you can taste the local specialties. Almost all restaurants have Serbian live music.
There is :
- Restaurant " Dva bela goluba " ( Two white doves) - Boulevard Despota Stefana 3 ;
- Restaurant " Dva jelena " ( Two deer) - Street Skadarska 32 ;
- Restaurant " Ima dana" (There are days) - Street Skadarska 38 ;
- Restaurant " Putujuci glumac " (Travelling actor) - Street Gospodar Jevremova 65 ;
- Restaurant " Crni gruja " ( Black emanuelle) - Street Skadarska 30.
What to do:
Bars, clubs, rafts and casinos work every day of the week deep into the night. A contagious atmosphere or crazy parties and good fun rules them until the early morning hours. From alternative to reggae, brass bands and gypsy music to turbo folk, from techno to heavy metal, Belgrade is bouncing in one of its many rhythms every night. Strahinjića Bana Street is a unique fun zone. A single city centre street houses around twenty cafes, restaurants and bars, always filled with loud and cheerful Belgraders. If you like to be in the epicentre of city life, Strahinjića Bana is the place for you.
Where to go to buy :
In the center of Belgrade is market place known as " Zeleni venac " ( Green Wreath), there you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits, cheese, eggs, honey, rakija ( Serbian brandy), ajvar, meat and fish.
There are many shopping malls:
- " Usce shopping center " , Mihaila Pupina Boulevard 4;
- " Sava Centar ", Street Milentija Popovica 9;
- " Delta City ", Street Jurija Gagarina 16;
- " Metro " , Novi Sad Highway 120;
- " Mercator ", Boulevard umetnosti 4.
Enjoy!
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