Why Belgrade?

Come to a city where you will feel at home.
This is not a tourist slogan but the truth. We are not bearing in mind the well know Serbian hospitality that seems to grow with the number of kilometers our guest has made to come to Belgrade. Belgrade is an unusual mosaic built up by centuries of overlapping civilizations in which everyone finds at least something that reminds him of home, obviously wrapped up in the inimitable Belgrade charm.

There is no place in the world with such a natural combination of oriental passion and European finesse. Having stood on the path of many conquests going both from the East and from the West, Belgrade has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, and has not the continuity of style and the elegance of similar European big cities. On the other hand, it has abundant vitality, sense of humor, curiosity. That' s why you will never get bored in Belgrade!

Here are six convincing reasons for you to visit Belgrade as soon as possible:

Belgrade Centuries
The first settlements on the territory of present day Belgrade date back to the fourth millenium B.C. The first settlers didn't choose this area by accident. Two big rivers - the Danube and the Sava, the fertile plain and a rich hinterland, a natural crossroad of river and land trails were a temptation for all peoples that roamed the region in ancient times. This is testified by a nearly

Ancient sources provide the oldest known name for Belgrade - Singidunum. Seemingly, this is a compound word made of the name of the Dacian tribe called Singi and the Celtic word dunum witch means fortress, i.e. town. This interpretation indicates the existence of two ethnic roots and is based on the belief that the earlier inhabitants were Singis, and that the name of the settlement came about when the Celts migrated here and finally mixed with the indigenous population.

6000 years long history - and the first written documents date back to the 3rd century B.C.
The name of the settlement was preserved throughout the Roman rule. With the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Singidunum passed over to the Eastern Empire, i.e. Byzantium, and the name of the city gained a Greek sound: Singidunum became Singidon.

Favored by the weaknesses in the defense of the Byzantine border, Slavs started frequently crossing the Danube in the 6th century and gradually settled in the area. The stone built fortress rising above the rivers was dubbed Beli Grad (white city). The name Beograd is officially mentioned for the first time in an epistle dated April 16th 878. sent by Pope John VIII to prince Boris of Bulgaria.

Belgrade is mentioned in several Slavic manuscripts written between 11th and 15th century. The most relevant remarks are found in the St. Clement of Ohrid hagiography written at the end of 11th or at the beginning of 12th century. The manuscript reveals that in 886, Belgrade hosted two fugitives from Moravia - promoters of Slavic literacy: St. Cyril and St. Method.

Between the 16th and 19th century Belgrade is referred to with various names in different languages: Alba Graeca, Alba Bulgarica, Bello grado, Nandor Alba, Griechisch Weissenburg, Castelbianco... However, all these names are translations of the Slavic word Beograd.

More details about the history of Belgrade can be found in the official Internet presentation of the capital >>

Belgrade Sprit
The biggest and the most visible treasure Belgrade has are Belgraders!
No matter where in the world they live.

If you read attentively the end credits of international hit films, you will find the name of at least one Belgrader temporarily working in Hollywood. No major global project, from the creation of state of the art software to top sport events takes place without the involvement of someone coming from Belgrade and working temporarily abroad. They are all temporarily away from their home town, because they know where one can live intensely and where they learned their trade and especially the style that lead them to success.

If all the knowledge, talent and Belgrade spirit, currently scattered around the world were gathered in one place, Serbia would be one of the leading countries in many fields.

Belgrade Sites
Some of the important city streets have been traced nearly a dozen centuries ago. Strolling around the center of the city you will be taking a walk through history one can breathe and feel in many places. Find your favorite place in Belgrade. Don't just follow the recommendations of your hosts - Belgraders are often unaware of the many wonderful, peaceful corners in their city. They've grown accustomed to them, since they see them every day!

Religious Belgrade
I cometh and found the noblest
burgh from ancient times,
the grand town of Belgrade,
by sorry fate destroyed and nearly void.
Having rebuilt it, I consecrated it
to the Holy Mother of God.

(Despot Stefan Lazarevic)

Along with Constantinople, Belgrade is one of the two towns in the world consecrated to the Holy Mother of God. It has been consecrated by despot Stefan Lazarevic in 1403 with a special charter, quoted by the despot's biographer Constantine the Philosopher in his works.

Ever since the town feast Belgrade celebrates is Ascension Day, symbolizing the resurrection of the city from ashes. It is one of the ten holy feasts dedicated to Christ, always celebrated on a Thursday - forty days after Easter and ten days before Pentecost. On that day, there is a traditional religious procession along the main city streets in which many Belgraders take part.

Belgrade is one of the spiritual center of the Balkans. The dominant religion in this area is Christian Orthodox. The blending of Orthodox Christianity, Byzantine culture and Slav soul is easily felt even in the smallest churches if one glances at the frescoes of rulers and saints, painted over the centuries.

Green Belgrade
When you feel like going outdoors in Belgrade, the biggest problem is deciding where to go first:

The Danube and the Sava
Ada Ciganlija island
Mt. Avala
Košutnjak Hill
Topcider Park

In the forests in the outskirts of Belgrade dozens of rare bird species live, along with other exceptional flora and fauna. In fact, 182 trees in Belgrade have been listed as natural monuments and protected by the law. The Belgrade green treasure covers an area of over 4000 hectares.

In particular, the following environments and sites enjoy special protection and status:
- The "Jevremovac" Botanical Garden with over 250 species of trees 300 herbaceous species.
- Banjicka šuma (Banjica Forest) - and ornithological reservation for migratory birds
- Veliko ratno ostrvo (Major War Island) - a reservation for migratory ornitho-fauna
- Pionirski park (Pioneers' Park) - a protected environment around the Stari Dvor (Old Court) monument
- Kalemegdan - protected environment around the Belgrade Fortress and the ZOO.
- Topcider Park and Košutnjak Hill - as a cultural-historical heritage environment.
- Zemunski City Park - as a protected cultural monuments environment.

Belgrade Events
In Belgrade there's always something happening to meet everyone's taste.
Just take a look at the calendar of the cultural, entertainment, sports and fair events >>