SEPTEMBER 11th - 12th, 2012
ECHM CONSENSUS CONFERENCE:
Organisation of a Clinical Hyperbaric Therapy Centre and Related Health Management Issues >>>
SEPTEMBER 12th - 15th, 2012
38th EUBS ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING
Programme will include invited speakers, oral and poster presentations... >>>
SEPTEMBER 16th, 2012
8th DAN DIVERS DAY
DAN Europe cordially invites you to a recreational diving medicine symposium, open to the whole diving community... >>>
Gateway to the Balkans
Door to Central Europe
Belgrade is a city of unique and turbulent history and one of the oldest capital cities of Europe.
The city is not just located at the meeting point of two largest rivers in this part of the world, Sava and Danube, but it is also a place where two completely different geographical areas meet to create a unique blend and contrast - Panonian valley and mountain chains of the Balkan Peninsula.
Such a strategic location, at the natural crossroads of water paths and geographic areas made Belgrade magically attractive for many nations and rulers who wanted to settle there and to control the city. Their constant presence, and changes of rulers, gave a unique flavor to this natural crossroads, and enriched it with various human made attributes.
So, Belgrade became a permanent border between worlds, a place of meeting and exchange, but also of perpetual conflicts and fights.
The first recorded mention of the city dates from 6th Century BC, when Greek writer Hesiodus wrote about it. That is considered as the beginning of the recorded history of Belgrade. In 3rd Century BC, the city became the Celts' stronghold, and the settlement got its oldest known name: Singidunum.
Because of its location, Balkans always was the place where powers and invaders waged their battles. Greeks, Romans, Celts, Huns, Slavs, Goths, Ugrians, Bulgarians, Russians, Turks, Germans, Austrians... are just some of many peoples that were invading and ruling this exceptional place on Earth.
During its recorded history, the city had been destroyed around 40 times, was changing rulers about 60 times, and had about a dozen of different names. Probably not too many human settlements could compete with such statistics.
Slavs arrived to this crossroads about 1500 years ago. Since than, they got tied up to the "White City", as they called it when they saw it for the first time, enchanted by the white of its city walls, reflected in the waters of two rivers next to it. The fact that, among all the nations that arrived here, they were the one to stay and remain here tells of their courage and perseverance.
Some of the most popular tourist sights
- Kalemegdan park with Belgrade fortress
- Knez Mihailova street (pedestrian zone) with surroundings
- Republic Square: National Theatre, National Museum, Monument to Prince Mihailo Obrenovic
- Skadarlija - old bohemian quarter
- Temple of St Sava
- City Court complex - Old and New Palace
- Dedinje Royal complex - Royal Palace and White Palace
- Museum of Nikola Tesla
- Mountain Avala: TV tower, Monument to the unknown hero, Monument to the Russian War Veterans