Serbia

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Belgrade"},{"insert":", located at the confluence of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Danube "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sava Rivers"},{"insert":", is the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"capital "},{"insert":"of the Republic of Serbia. The core of old Belgrade - known as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kalemegdan "},{"insert":"- is located along the right banks of both the Danube and the Sava Rivers (image center). To the west across the Sava,"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" Novi Beograd (New Belgrade)"},{"insert":" was constructed following World War II. The difference in urban patterns between the older parts of Belgrade and Novi Beograd is striking in this astronaut photograph from the International Space Station. Novi Beograd has an open grid structure formed by large developments and buildings such as the Palace of Serbia - a large federal building constructed during the Yugoslav period, now used to house elements of the Serbian Government. By contrast, the older urban fabric of Belgrade is characterized by a denser street grid and numerous smaller structures. Other suburban and residential development (characterized by red rooftops) extends to the south, east, and across the Danube to the north. The location of Belgrade along trade and travel routes between the East and West contributed to both its historical success as a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"center of trade"},{"insert":" and its fate as a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"battleground"},{"insert":". Today, the city is the financial center of Serbia, while Novi Beograd supports one of the largest business districts in southeastern Europe. Image courtesy of NASA.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gamzigrad-Romuliana, Palace of Galerius"},{"insert":". Gamzigrad is an archaeological site, spa resort and UNESCO World Heritage Site located near the city of Zaje?ar. It is the location of the ancient Roman complex of palaces and temples "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Felix Romuliana"},{"insert":", built by Emperor "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Galerius "},{"insert":"in Dacia Ripensis. As many as 17 Roman Emperors were born in the area of modern-day Serbia, second only to contemporary Italy. The most famous of these was "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Constantine the Great"},{"insert":", the first Christian Emperor, who issued an edict ordering religious tolerance throughout the Empire. Photo credit: Alxadj.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Church of Saint Sava"},{"insert":" in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Belgrade"},{"insert":". Sava was the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"founder "},{"insert":"of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Construction on the structure, one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world, began in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1935 "},{"insert":"but was interrupted many times because of various issues. Construction was completed in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2004"},{"insert":".\n"}]}

Interior dome of the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

Icon depicting Christ and saints in the Church of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

Orientation map at the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade. Destroyed many times over the centuries, the current fortress dates from the 18th century.

The Inner Stambol Gate is the main entrance to the Belgrade's Kalemegdan Fortress.

Confluence of the Sava and Danube Rivers as seen from the Kalemegdan Fortress in Belgrade.

{"ops":[{"insert":"The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Belgrade Fairground"},{"insert":" (now known as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://memorijalnicentar.rs/"},"insert":"Staro Sajmiste"},{"insert":", in Serbian or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://memorijalnicentar.rs/"},"insert":"Old Fairground"},{"insert":", in English) opened in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1937"},{"insert":". It was a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"monumental modern complex"},{"insert":" at the time, which hosted international fairs, with task of promoting the economy of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kingdom of Yugoslavia"},{"insert":". At the first exhibition from September 1937, there were 883 exhibitors, 493 Yugoslav and 390 foreign (17 countries from "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Europe"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"America "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Asia"},{"insert":"). It had 310,000 visitors, while at the 1931 census Belgrade had a population of 266,849. In September 1938 one of the exhibitions on the fair was the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"first presentation of television"},{"insert":" in this part of Europe, by Philips. The first motor show, 1938 Belgrade Car Show, was held in March 1938. The imposing structure of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cental Tower "},{"insert":"was opened in 1938, dedicated with lavish ceremony. The latticed steel spike construction was 74 meters (243 ft) tall, becoming the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"tallest structure"},{"insert":" in Belgrade. The tower was an imposing and domineering structure, which, due to its height and position in the flat and low terrain, was visible from all parts of Belgrade from across the river. During World War II, Staro Sajmiste became a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nazi concentration camp"},{"insert":". The Staro Sajmište memorial cites "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"23,000"},{"insert":" fatalities, of which "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"10,000"},{"insert":" were Jewish. Serbs, Romani, captured partizans who fought the Germans and others were prisoned and perished there, under the authority of the Nazi puppet "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Independent State of Croatia"},{"insert":", which took over the concentration camp.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"In "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2022 "},{"insert":"the State of Serbia and the City of Belgrade opened the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://memorijalnicentar.rs/"},"insert":"Memorijalni Centar Staro Sajmiste "},{"insert":"(Memorial Center Old Fairground) under the leadership of the Serbia's former ambassador to Israel "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Krinka Vidakovic-Petrov "},{"insert":"(above). It aims to commemorate and honor the victims of the WWII concentration camp. In 2023 the Center rebuild most of the Old Fairground's monumental Central Tower. The reconstruction project is being performed by"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://koto.rs"},"insert":"KOTO construction company"},{"insert":", the prestigious regional leader in building renewal and reconstruction.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fetislam Fortress "},{"insert":"(\"Gates of Islam \" in Turkish), situated on the bank of the Danube near "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kladovo"},{"insert":", was build by the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ottoman Turks"},{"insert":" in the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"16th "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"17th "},{"insert":"century, during the Turkish occupation of Serbia. It served as a starting point for the Ottoman conquest of the neighboring Hungarian regions of Severin and Erdély (Transylvania). The whole complex of this fortress was surrounded with a still visible "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"deep "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"wide trench"},{"insert":", which used to be filled with water from a Danube's branch. The Turkish garrison stayed there up until "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1867"},{"insert":", when Fetislam was handed over to the Serbian prince Mihajlo Obrenović along with six other cities...\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"...The medieval "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fetislam Fortress"},{"insert":" was recently reconstructed to its old architectural glory. It reopened in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2023 "},{"insert":"as a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"European Union"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Serbia "},{"insert":"co-joint project giving new life to this unique tourist attractions, which features a large stage for music and theater performances. The fortress reconstruction project was performed by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://koto.rs"},"insert":"KOTO construction company"},{"insert":", the well-known regional leader in "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"building renewal and reconstruction"},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"link":"https:koto.rs"},"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https:koto.rs"},"insert":"KOTO"},{"insert":" was awarded the prestigious "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Associations of Serbian Architects (ASA) Grand Prix"},{"insert":" award for the successful fortress reconstruction.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Serbia's "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Novak Djokovic, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Sr_Novak_Djokovic.ogg"},"insert":"pronounced"},{"insert":"; is considered "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"one of the world's best tennis players"},{"insert":" to ever play the sport. He has won a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, the first-most in history for a male player. Also, Djokovic has won 8 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Finals titles, 40 ATP Tour Masters 1000 titles, 14 ATP Tour 500 titles, and has held the No.1 spot in the ATP rankings for record 400 weeks, and has finished as the year-end No. 1 a record 8 times. He is a 6-time International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Champion and a 8-time ATP year-end No. 1-ranked player. Djokovic has won numerous awards, including the"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year"},{"insert":" (four times) and the 2011 "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year"},{"insert":" award. Photo credit: Charles Ng.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Serbia "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"men's"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"national water polo team"},{"insert":" held Olympic Games, World Championship, European Championship, World Cup and World League titles simultaneously in period from 2014 to 2016. This photograph was taken at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo credit: Carlos Antonio Azevedo.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"World map of the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Serbian diaspora"},{"insert":". The diaspora numbers about "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"7.1 million"},{"insert":", living in some "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"100 countries"},{"insert":". It is the largest in the United States/Canada, numbering around 1 million/250,000, respectively. Since 1901, the Serbs in North America have started fraternal and other social organization. The "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"http://snflife.org"},"insert":"Serb National Federation (SNF)"},{"insert":" is the oldest and most prominent such organization on the continent. It provides quality life insurance and financial products for its membership and sponsors academic, sports, and cultural events. "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"American Srbobran"},{"insert":", SNF's official publication, is the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"oldest continuously published Serbian-language newspape"},{"insert":"r in the world. In 2001, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"American Srbobran"},{"insert":" was awarded the \"Best Newspaper\" award at the Pennsylvania Fraternal Congress. Credit: WorldlyVoice.\n"}]}