Pobednik (Lit: The Victor) monument was set up in the Upper Town of Belgrade Fortress in Belgrade, built to commemorate Serbia’s victory over Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empire during the Balkan Wars and the First World War.Belgrade or ‘White City’ is my home town. It has special place in my heart and I am sure that who ever had chance to visit this proud and adventurous city shares my opinion. It’s where Sava meets Danube, just under the ancient Kalemegdan, where old Belgrade meets New, where socialist blocks are squeezed between art nouveau masterpieces, a style that took Europe by storm as reaction against the Ottoman relics.
Kalemegdan, Belgrade Fortress (Credit: The Fit Cupcake)The city full of contrasts.
(Credit: Online source)St. Sava Church ( Credit: Online source)Through it’s history, Belgrade was part of Roman empire, Ottoman empire, ruled by Bulgarians, Austro-Hungarians, Serbs and occupied by Nazi’s.
Belgrade, situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers. (Credit: The Fit Cupcake)Kalemegdan (Credit: The Fit Cupcake)Today this is modern city, according to Lonely Planet ‘One of the most happening cities in Europe’.
Kneza Milosa Ave. ( Credit: Online source)Sava River ( Credit: Online source)Belgrade is the center of culture in the whole region, home to music and film festivals ( FEST, BITEF, BELEF and BEMUS).
BITEF Theatre is an avant-garde theater located in the vibrant space of reconstructed Evangelical Church, in the heart of Dorcol. ( Credit: BITEF Theatre)(Credit: BITEF Theatre)Belgrade has hosted several relatively major sporting events too, including Eurobasket 2005, the 2005 European Volleyball Championship, the 2006 European Water Polo Championship, and the European Youth Olympic Festival 2007. Belgrade was the host city of the 2009 Summer Universiade chosen over the cities of Monterrey and Poznań; and Belgrade Marathon Race is the largest and the most mass attended sporting event in Serbia.
29th Belgrade Marathon ( Credit: Belgrade Marathon Face Book page)29th Belgrade Marathon (Credit: Belgrade Marathon Face Book page)Belgrade is also home to two most known football clubs ‘Red Star’ ( who won ’90-’91 Europe Cup in Bari & the ’91 International Cup in Tokyo) and ‘Partizan’. The matches between two clubs are known as ‘The Eternal derby’, ranked by British ‘Daily Mail’ fourth among the 10 greatest football rivalries of all time.
‘The Eternal Derby’ ( Credit: Online source)‘The Eternal Derby’ (Credit: Online source)Red Star, Bari ( Credit: Online Source)While here, you can’t miss grandiose coffee houses, floating night clubs – ‘splavovi’, the old bohemian quarter Skadarlija, Savamala quarter and Nikola Tesla museum.
Skadarlija ( Credit: The Fit Cupcake)Savamala, Jazz garden ( Credit: Online source)Savamala, MIKSER party (Credit: Online source)Savamala ( Credit: Online source)Last but not least – do not forget to try ‘pljeskavica’.