Belgrade is the capital and the biggest city in Serbia. It is located 110 m above sea level, in the heart of the country, upon the confluence of rivers Sava and Danube. Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe – it was found by the Celts in the 3d century B.C. Throughout its rich and stormy history it has been destroyed and recovered many times, that is why the architecture of Belgrade is full of contrasts. It was last destroyed heavily during NATOs bombing in 1999.
The contemporary name of the city was first mentioned in the IX century. Belgrade survived the invasion of the Romans, Goths, Francs, Turks, Bulgarians and Hungarians. During World War I the city was conquered by the Austrian forces, and during World War II it was occupied by the Nazi Germany. After the liberation of Belgrade by the Soviet army and the National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia, the city was pronounced to be the capital of Yugoslavia. After the dissolution it became the capital of Serbia and Montenegro. Nowadays Belgrade isn’t only the economical and manufacture center of Serbia, it is also the capital of culture, education and science. There are many organizations of national matter in the sphere of science and art.
The oldest part of Belgrade is the fortress of Kalemegdan and the Old City located near to it. The Old towns streets behold most of the museums and the rebuilt palaces. Kalemegdan fortress tells the long history of Belgrade, within its walls there are many architecture monuments: the remains of the Roman settlement, the Byzantine palace, artillery grounds. A magnificent view opens from the fortress walls. Here you can also find the Military museum and take a walk through the huge park within the fortress walls.
The Cathedral of Saint Sava - the main cathedral of the Serbian Orthodox Church is located in Belgrade. Its building began in 1894 but the construction was frozen way up till 1986. Today it is one of the visit-cards of the city!
Along with the fortress and the Cathedral the main point of interest of Belgrade are the magnificent palaces, inherited from the first rulers of Serbia (Royal palace, White palace, Old palace, New palace).
It’s worth seeing the National museum, the museum of Ethnography, Nicola Tesla Museum.
A famous sight of Belgrade is the House of flowers – the mausoleum of Josip Broz Tito.
Without a doubt you have to take a walk along the Knez Mihailova street – the main pedestrian area of Belgrade, and the Skadarlija – which is the center of bohemia, here you can try Serbian national dishes and enjoy the street music.
Along with the cultural heritage Belgrade is eager to offer you unforgettable nightlife! The city lights up with thousands of lights and offers all kinds of entertainment to all age categories, to those who like crowded places and those who prefer a bit privacy! Belgrade is one of the best nightlife capitals in Europe.
Koliko je bio bogat i sadržajan društveni i kulturni život ondašnjeg Beograda, potvrđuje i pronađeni Jonin sarkofag, koji potiče s kraja III i početka IV veka. Pronađen je sasvim slučajno 1885. godine na uglu Kapetan Mišine i Gospodar Jovanove ulice. U pitanju je sarkofag napravljen od belog krečnjaka, sa poklopcem na dve vode. Ono što ga čini neobičnim su hrišćanski simboli kojima je ukrašen i mitska priča koja je uklesana u kamenu. I jedno i drugo potvrđuje prisustvo hrišćana u Beogradu, nove religije koja je nepun vek pre toga priznata.
Na kamenom sarkofagu uklesana je scena iz života starozavetnog proroka Jone, po kome je ovaj značajni arheloški nalaz i dobio ime. Spretnim majstorskim pokretom, prikazano je stradanje Jone zbog svog protivljenja božjoj volji. Naime, starozavetna priča kaže da, u nameri da upozori stanovnike asirske prestonice Ninive zbog svog bezbožnog života i bezvlašća, Bog šalje vernog Jonu u Niniv kako bih i pozvao na obnavljanje vere. Jona odbija ovaj poziv, i kreće brodom put Tarsisa. Gnevni bog šalje oluju na brod na kome se nalazio Jona, koji skače sa broda kako bi ga spasio, jer je bio siguran da je on razlog božjeg gneva. Ali, to nije kraj njegovih stradanja. Potom ga guta velika riba ili kit, u čijoj utrobi provodi tri dana i tri noći moleći se za oprost. Upravo su ove morske scene prikazane su na desnoj strani sarkofaga. Veza sa hrišćanstvom nalazi se u delu Jevanđelja po Mateju, gde u jednoj propovedi Hrist poručuje svojim učenicima: "Jer kao što je Jona bio u utrobi kitovoj tri dana i tri noći, tako će i Sin Čovječiji biti u srcu zemlje tri dana i tri noći."