We will try to introduce you with cultural life in Serbia and meet you with our tradition. So, open your mind for something new.

Hope you’ll like it! :)

Serbia is a country of many nationalities, accents, customs and ways. Country of huge history and tradition. From sophisticated places of the capital to unrestrained rural charm; from the flat land of the north to the exciting scenery of the south; from sturdy fortifications of the Middle Ages to postmodernist architecture of today; from the flavor of the East to the taste of the West.

General info:

Location: The Republic of Serbia is located in South-Eastern Europe, in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. It lies on the shortest natural route between Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern Europe. Its territory covers southern part of the Pannonian Plain and central part of the Balkans. Serbia borders Hungary to the north; Romania and Bulgaria to the east; the Republic of Macedonia and Albania to the south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the west. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and the largest city.

Capital Belgrade – more than 1.7 million people

Area It covers the area of 88,361 km2

Population It has a population of 10.5 million

Religion The main religion in Serbia is Christian Orthodox. There are also other religious

communities in Serbia: Islamic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and other.

Symbols:

Flag Coat of arms

In the north - continental climate; central portion continental and Mediterranean climate; Climate:to the south - Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland.

is GMT + 1 hour. Therefore, when it is 12am in Belgrade, it is noon in Paris, 6 am in Local time:New York, 11 am in London, 1pm in Athens.

Official language: Serbian Official alphabet: Cyrillic, as well as Latin. Language:

Universal rule: Write as you speak, read as it is written.

You may freely use English in everyday conversation; virtually everyone under the age of 35 speaks English well enough to carry on a full conversation. Other commonly spoken languages are French, German, and Spanish.

1-2nd January (New Year), Holidays: 7th January (Orthodox Christmas), 13th January (Serbian New Year), 15th February (Constitution Day), 1-2nd May (International Labor Day), Eastern (from Good Friday until second day of Eastern).

* Eastern and Christmas are celebrated according to Julian calendar.

The monetary unit is the Dinar ( symbol: RSD ) Currency:

No (hopefully not for long ) Member of EU:

BELGRADE ~The city that never sleeps~

“Whoever wakes up in Belgrade may consider that he achieved enough in

his/her life for that day. Insisting on anything else besides that would be immodest.”

Duško Radović (Serbian writer, poet, journalist)

Geography

Belgrade is a city in southeastern Europe, mostly on Balkans and with some part in central Europe and characteristics are such – hilly part is Balkans and flatlands are central Europe. It lays on mouth of Sava to Danube and because of such position it’s named “Gates of the Balkans” and “Doors to the central Europe”.

Natural beauties

Two mountains dominate southern Belgrade area – Kosmaj (628m – 2060ft) and Avala (511m – 1676ft) and they are mostly covered with forests and picnic areas. Popular picnic area in this area are Ada Ciganlija, Ski track Kosutnjak, Avala resort.

Peripheral northern and western areas are mostly industrial zone and agricultural land but it also has to offer many interesting features as there are sports airports, picnic areas, whilst urban area is of significant historical importance. Popular picnic area in this area are Great war island, Bojcin Forrest, Nautical village.

Climate

The climate in Belgrade is a moderate continental one, with an average daytime temperature of 11.7oC (53oF) with July as the warmest month average of 22.1oC (71.7oF). Winters are not too harsh with average 21 days bellow 0oC (32oF), spring is short and rainy and summer starts suddenly. Characteristic of Belgrade climate is Košava - Southeastern and eastern wind which is Belgrade’s most common air cleanser.

Culture and art

Belgrade is the centre of culture and art of Serbia. It is Belgrade where our most notable artists create, where over 11.000 theatrical performances, exhibitions, concerts, performance events, and other artistic programs are presented and where prominent authors in the world of art are hosted.

Belgrade is the centre of the highest state and national institutions of culture and art: Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Library of Serbia, the National Museum, the National Theatre and the University of Arts.

It is Belgrade where the most significant works of architecture are located, with Kalemegdan accommodating Belgrade Fortress, cultural monuments and other immovable cultural treasures, numerous archeological sites with remnants of developed civilization and culture on Belgrade territory from prehistory until this day.

The interesting fact is that in 2011.

Belgrade was the city in the world for his night life :) numer 1

Sights

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.

Places that are interesting to visit are Knez Mihailova street, Nemanjina street, Kralja Petra I street, Knez Mihailova street, Skadarska street, Nikola Pašić square, Republic square, Studentski square, Terazije street, Slavija square, Kalemegdan fortress, The Old Pallace, St. Sava Temple, St. Petka Church, Bairakli Mosque, Franciscan Church, St. Peter’s Church, Synagogue in Maršala Birjuzova street, Gardoš tower, Tašmajdan park, Zemun Park, Karađorđe Park, University Park, Avala tower, Belgrade catacombs, Jajinci memorial center, Vinča archeological site and many others.

Restaurants and Nightlife

There are many restaurants in Belgrade that offer some kinds of entertainment or specific program. There are restaurants with Chinese, Lebanese, Italian, French, Serbian traditional cuisine and many others.

There are bars and pubs all across the city where fun starts in the evening and lasts until sunrise. Specialty of Belgrade are floats on Danube and Sava where everyone can enjoy his/hers music (rock, jazz, house, pop, etc.) and type of entertainment. That’s one of the reasons why Belgrade is considered to be a city that never sleeps and offers the best entertainment.

Do you like it?

This is how we do...

CULTURAL LIFE IN SERBIA

DOBRODOŠLI! ДОБРОДОШЛИ! (WELCOME!)

Letters

Serbian language has two letters : Cyrillic and Latin. Cyrillic is older, but we use both.

3 times

When congratulate birthday, New Year or other holiday, we kiss the person on the cheek three times. So do not be surprised! :-)

Since we are when the Cross, the Cross with three right fingers. Orthodox,

When we meet...

The Serbs are and when we are meeting with a friend, welcome to it by hug and kiss very friendlyon the cheek or just kiss on the cheek but if we have a serious meeting, then just a hand. Serbs in general are showing interest in a stranger's life, open and direct. Personal questions politics, and money are sometimes the basis of conversation in Serbia, and you must not be offended if you are asked in the most direct way about your movements, family, occupation, salary. Well, life in Serbia is in many ways different from life in North America or Northern Europe: it is unhurried, loud and smoke-filled.

s valued when greeting people and, generally, it is the way Serbs show their interest. Eye contact iLooking away may be perceived as a sign of boredom or outright rudeness. A romantic interest is usually implied when the eyes of two strangers meet and linger.

January 7th, January 13th....celebrations!

We celebrate holidays under the old (Julian) calendar. This means that Christmas is celebrated 7th In January, we celebrate a New Year's twice- regular on the 31.12 and Serbian New Year, 13 January. Also celebrate Easter by July the calendar. In addition to these holidays we have a SLAVA that celebrate the days of saints. Each house / family has its own patron saint and celebrate the glory of his day. By tradition, the glory is celebrated in a small circle of people, with family and close friends.

Slava?! Hm?

There are several theories of origin patron saint of the Serbs. All these can be classified into two groups. One group believes that slava is the rest of the old Serbian faith traditions that have been taken such as the celebration of the home.

The second group completely rejects the opinion and finds that krsna slava has no roots in pagan religion, but that is a celebration of the day when an ancestor of the family was baptized.

For completeness of glory are enough cooked grain, Slava cake, red wine, icons and candles. Wheat symbolizes the death of the body and the life of the soul, loves the bread as Christ's body, red wine is the blood of Christ, the icon of the connection with the sacred that is celebrated, while the flame of God's light in the darkness of the world.

Uranak?! More “Hm?!”?

In most cities of our country it’s celebrated Uranak. This is a holiday celebrated on the night of 30.4/1.5. It is celebrated in the countryside or in the mountains, by the river / lake ...Large numbers of people gather at night and is baked RAKIA, is made kacamak (serbian food) and wait for the morning to continue with selebration.

Other stuff

Coffee

Our tradicional coffe is non-filtred coffe. We called it “domaća kafa” (home-made coffe) DOMESTIC or “tuska kafa” (turkish coffe). Of course, we drink other kinds of coffe, too.

Typical serbian cuisine

Serbian cuisine is famous because of heavy food. Our meals are pretty big and very delicious.

Serbia is one of the two countries on the world that producing kajmak (second is Mongolia). Kajmak is the most similiar to cheese.

Rakia

Our tradicional drink is rakija. The glasses are often touched with the toast: "Ziveli!" We like to say: “Rakija connecting people” , but when you drink it, don’t take too much. :-)

See it, feel it, taste it

Republic of Serbia consists of six regions, which by its geographical features, climate, ethnic structure, customs and culture are very

different.

Every part of Serbia is special in their own way.

Because of that, we representing you all regions in Serbia. You will find many reasons worth to visiting all of them!

SOCIAL Life Major tourism events:

EXIT (also known as State of EXIT) Exit is an annual summer music festival in the Petrovaradin fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia. It is staged annually since 2000 and usually lasts four days in July or August.

Over a period of several years, Exit has become one of the most interesting and renowned festivals in Europe and even the entire world. Performers are eager to return to EXIT festival and the number of visitors from the region and the entire world is ever increasing. Exit has become one of the 5 most renowned festivals in the world.

During the festival, the park alongside the Danube riverbank between the Danube quay and the university campus is turned into the largest camping site in the country. If you fancy seven days of incredible festival atmosphere, the EXIT camp is the place.

GUCA BRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Imagine a town of one thousand people receiving half a million visitors, who’ll drink over one million liters of beer and several tones of various other drinks, and eat immense quantities of mouthwatering cabbage cooked in the traditional “wedding reception style” and grilled meat!

And all that in a mere five days, to the tune of over fifty brass orchestras playing live night and day to entertain guests in the shade of some hundred large canopies in the fields of the charming Serbian town of Guca. "Trumpet Holiday" is how people call the days of Dragacevo Brass Music Festival at Guca, the world’s capital of trumpet music art.

This festival is the most important gathering of authentic folk art and amateur culture in Serbia and the only event dedicated to brass music as an authentic folk art form.

BEER FEST The recommendation by the British paper The Independent where Belgrade Beer Fest was included among several most attractive events in the world, as well as promotion at numerous tourism trade shows across Europe, take the credit for the record breaking number of foreign visitors at Beer Fest. Besides Belgrade, there are Beer Fests in many other cities in Serbia like Nis, Novi Sad…

Tamburica fest

Tamburica fest is one of the youngest event in Serbia. Held in the village of Deronje in Backa. Fans will be able to Tambura few days to enjoy the sounds of tambourines and domestic products. In addition, organized a series of accompanying events. It takes place from 25 to 27 of June.

Vrnjački International Carnival

Carnival Vrnjački is becoming increasingly popular event in Vrnjacka Spa. Vrnjački Carnival has an international character as it is involved in a number of groups from Brazil, Malaysia, Macedonia, Italy, Romania and other countries. During the festival organized by the masked balls, pop music concerts, sporting events, literary evenings. Held from the 11th to 18 July, 2010.year.

Nis Film Festival

Traditional Nis Film Festival is held every year in the second half of August at the summer stage in the Fortress. The festival is in addition to displaying the latest home movies, organize, and additional facilities. The festival lasts for seven days.

Serbia is a well known country for its social and night life. Besides its world known festivals like Exit,Beer fest,Guca,some of interesting events in the following period:

February - Guitar Art Festival. www.gaf.rs - International revue character movie Fest.

March: - Belgrade Festival of documentary and short movie. www.kratkimetar.rs - International Music Youth Competition. www.music-competition.co.rs - St. Patrick’s Day: Traditional Orthodox Celts Concert

April:- Belgrade Dance Festival. www.belgradedancefestival.com - Belgrade Marathon..www.bgdmarathon.org - Belgrade Fashion Week. www.belgradefashionweek.com

May:- Serbia Open '12. Tennis ATP tournament. www.serbiaopen.rs - Group Weddings. Assembly of the City. - The night of the musseums, 18:00-02:00; www.nocmuzeja.rs - Belgrade Design Week. www.belgradedesignweek.com

WE ARE PROUD OF:

HISTORY Ancient Period

The history of Serbia had witnessed several political alliances and break-ups.

The first Serbian state was formed in the mid 9th century, expanding by the mid 14th century to an empire comprising most of the Balkan. All Serbian medieval monasteries, and their frescoes, architecture, St. Sava’s church law code, Dusan’s legal code, are eternal witnesses of Serbian civilization, and great value for European and world heritage.

St. Sava Dusan’s legal code 13th century Fresco

Serbia under Turkish rule

Turks defeated the Serbian army in two crucial battles in 1371 and 1389 and continued their conquest until they finally seized the entire Serbian territory in 1459. Serbia was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for almost five centuries (14th to 19th century).

During this period Turks persecuted the Serbian aristocracy, determined to physically exterminate the social elite. Since the Ottoman Empire was an Islamic theocratic state, Christian Serbs lived as virtual bond servants - abused, humiliated and exploited. Serbia gained its autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in two uprisings in 1804 (led by Đorđe Petrović – Karađorđe) and 1815 (led by Miloš Obrenović), although Turkish troops continued to garrison the capital, Belgrade, until 1867.

The Turkish Empire was already faced with a deep internal crisis without any hope of recuperating. This had a particularly hard effect on the orthodox nations living under its rule. The Serbs launched not only a national revolution but a social one as well.

World War I

World War I in fact started with the ultimatum and the attack on Serbia when a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria which led to Austria’s declaration of war on Serbia. During World War I Belgrade was the most destroyed town in Serbia and the country had lost 28% of its whole population.

In the war’s aftermath Serbia gathered all south Slav lands (Croatia, Slovenia, Slavonia, Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro) into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

Belgrade became the capital of the new Kingdom. In 1927, Belgrade's first airport opened, and in 1929, its first radio station began broadcasting. .The last Grand Prix motor racing predecessor of List of Formula One Grands Prix were held in Belgrade before the outbreak of WWII.

In 1929 the country's name was changed to Yugoslavia and in the year 1936 Belgrade was proclaimed a tourist resort.

1939 Yugoslav Grand Prix held in Belgrade

World War II

The favorable period came to a abrupt end in 1941, when due to the rejected collaboration with the Nazi Germany, Serbia was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, killing thousands of people.

The city fell into Nazi hands and Belgrade's Jewish community were subject to mass shootings or were sent to extermination camps, perpetrating a barbaric genocide of over 750.000 Serbs, Jews and Gypsies.

In 1944 Belgrade was finally liberated and in 1945 Marshal Josip Broz Tito, the president at the time proclaimed the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

was a Yugoslav revolutionary and Marshal Josip Broz Tito Statesman. Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation.

During World War II, Tito organized the anti-fascist resistance movement known as the Yugoslav Partisans. In total, during his career he received a total of 119 awards and decorations from 60 countries around the world, and 18 of those have been awarded only once.

Post War Period

The post-war period was marked by a rapid industrialization and the build of the New Belgrade on the other side of Sava river.

A western and cosmopolitan atmosphere reached the climax in 1980’s. Gradually as a result of the increasing ethnic problem in the region, only Serbia and Montenegro continued to be a part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, with Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina declaring their independence.

Unfortunately, another round of destruction occurred in 1999 when the NATO air-raids bombed and destroyed residential buildings, administrative and production facilities.

Serbia after 1999.

On a 5th October 2000. Followed big changes. Democratic party replaced socialist party,which resulted that Serbia become more Democratic state,as it is still nowdays. From that day, our country is progressing on most plans,like bulding better roads,new shopping centers,making tows cleaner,bulding more centers for homeless people ect.

In November 2009 a decision was made by EU to Serbia abolish visa, which came into force in December 2009. Serbia is on the right path fulfilling all the requirements for entry into the European Union,and every day it’s getting closer.

In 2006 Montenegro as well declared itself as an independent country, thus Serbia automatically became a sovereign country and this led to the formation of the Republic of Serbia. As such Serbia exists today with Belgrade as its capital city, one of the oldest cities in Europe.

Natural treasures When speaking about its natural treasures, Serbia is a true jewel of Europe. As such, through its high mountains, vast plains, huge forests and beautiful caves, it offers various challenges to all real admirers of nature and wilderness.

Serbia is a perfect place for all those who possess that extra adventurous spirit. Some of the already extinct animal and plant species, that used to exist in other parts of Europe, are still present in Serbian forests and its rich marshes.There are literary hundreds of places to visit, things to do and see in Serbia to list them all here, so we’ll share only some of them that everyone enjoy visiting..

Discover the natural beauty of Serbia!

While visiting Serbia, the first thing you will fall in love with are its mountains of their extraordinary beauty.

Kopaonik - The sunny mountain Zlatibor - The mountain of golden pines

Serbia has a huge historical heritage that can be seen in fortresses and castles from different historical periods.

Belgrade Fortress Petrovaradin Fortress

Devil’s Town is an interesting natural formation of rock towers that seem to take the shape of a city of sorts. The mystery of these formations, being almost sculpture-like, caused locals to give it its name.

National parks

Numbers are important. But sometimes they can’t express everything. It’s very hard to imagine and really experience how big and rich one country is, just by knowing numbers. If we say that Serbia has an area of 88, 361 km2, that’s just a number. If we say that 5% of that area are protected areas it’s yet another number. But if we show you those 5%...

National park “Kopaonik”

National park “Kopaonik” represents a home for diverse endemic species and is better known as “Sunny mountain” because of nearly 200 sunny days a year and 159 days of snow.

So get ready for skiing!

National park “Fruška gora”

This park is a “mirror of our geological past” because it hides a great number of fossils that are 123 milion years old. A side form that this park has beautiful forests and over 50 protected species (flora).

National park “Đerdap”

This park is most special because of it’s natural phenomenon- gorge of Đerdap through which Danube flows.

National park “Tara”

This beautiful park will take your breath away… but not only with it’s remarkable nature, flora and fauna, it will literally take your breath away if you’re looking for adventure and if you’re brave enough to try out the famous Tara rafting.

National park “Šar-planina”

Do you like butterflies? This park represents one of richest areas in Europe because it hides 147 species of butterflies.

SPORT In Serbia, a sport in high esteem as evidenced by the fact that a large number of boys and girls from an early age are starting to train some of the many sports. Role models for younger generations are our most celebrated athletes. They are our best ambassadors and represent Serbia in the best possible light.

We have representatives in every sport, like football, athletics, cycling, winter sports, archery, boxing, handball, swimming, table tennis, ice hockey ect. In archery we have representatives that are among the best in Europe, so it is with swimming, boxing, table tennis…

But we are the best in:

Serbian water polo team

Represents Serbia in international water polo competitions. This is the most successful team at the World Championships and one of the most successful counting all competitions.

In our water polo team played a very talented and one of the world's best players. This demonstrates the fact that 2011 year Filip Filipovic, voted the best water polo in 2011 in the selection of FINE. Dolphins, as they are called, with all the competition is almost always bring a medal.

Serbia basketball team

Was five times selected the best men's team. Champions of the world were in 2002. In all competitions, they are considered one of the favorites and they are always tricky opponents.

Composition of the basketball team is always well determined by the coach Dusan Ivkovic, and in all positions on the team playing the top players. Many of them play in foreign clubs and always in demand abroad.

Volleyball Team Serbia

The men's side won the 2000 Olympic gold in Sydney. The European championships have always been among the top five, and this year they were European champions. Even some of the best teams fear when they are on the other side of the net appearance of Miljkovic and friends.

No less successful was the women's volleyball team Serbia. The last major competition where our volleyball players participated, it was the European Championship in Serbia and Italy, where they won first place.

That same year, the Serbian celebrated European champions in men's and women's selection. The ranking of the World Volleyball Federation FIVB men's team remained in the 5-th place, while the women's selection moved up one position and now the world's fifth team.

Tennis

Novak Djokovic is Serbian tennis player and winner on the ATP rankings in singles. He is the best Serbian tennis player of all time, and playing tennis professionally since 2003.

In his career he won four titles in Grand Slam tournaments. He won a bronze medal at the Olympics 2008 and Beijing. And along with teammates from the national team of Serbia won the Davis Cup title last year.

Novak is the youngest player to reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, as well as the youngest to win the three best players on the ATP list.He was named best athlete of the Balkans, the world's best tennis player, ATP player of the year. Also,he is UNICEF National Ambassador and received the Order of St. Sava of the first order.

In Serbia there are more great players like Janko Tipsrević who is 9 th in the rankings, followed by Viktor Troicki who is 25 th, and Nenad Zimonjic who doubles player and is partner with his 4 th in the rankings. And since the players are Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Bojana Jovanovski.

Serbia is not a country with a big territory, but has great people with a big heart who will do their the best for you to feel here like home. Land of great history, land of rich cultural resources, land where you can come and enjoy all ur sense.

We can talk about this for hours and tell you much more, but…

You have to come! See it, feel it, taste it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytXYIc6YzyA