Sarajevo
Sarajevo (Cyrillic, Capajebo, Turkish, Saraybosna) is the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one of the most important cities in the Balkans. Its population was 429,672 according to the 1991 census, and is estimated to be around 300,000 residents today. Sarajevo was founded by the Ottomans in 1461. The city gained historical notoriety in 1914 as the site of the assassination that sparked World War I. Seventy years later, Sarajevo was in a more favorable historical spotlight as the host city for the 1984 Winter Olympics. From 1992-1995, Sarajevo endured over three years of siege by the Bosnian Serb forces during the Yugoslav wars.
Nine years later, Sarajevo is well on its way to recovery as a modern European capital. Sarajevo is part of Canton Sarajevo, one of the ten Cantons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is home to a variety of important historical structures such as the Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque and the Cathedral of Jesus' Heart. The Sarajevo Film Festival is held in the city every summer. The Bašćaršija Nights, the Sarajevo Winter Festival, and the Sarajevo Jazz Festival also take place in the city.
| |||||
| City nickname: "European Jerusalem" | |||||
Location in Bosnia and Herzegovina | |||||
| Municipalities | Centar Novi Grad Novo Sarajevo Stari Grad | ||||
| Area - Total | 142.0 km² (88.2 mi²) | ||||
| Population |
| ||||
| Time zone | Central European: UTC+1 | ||||
|
Latitude
|
43°52' N | ||||
Geography and Climate
Geography
Sarajevo is located close to the geometric center of triangularly shaped Bosnia and Herzegovina, and covers some 142.0 km² (88.2 mi²) of land. The core of the city is built in the Sarajevo valley (Also translated as Sarajevo field), a small depression 500 meters above sea level nestled in between the surrounding mountains. Although much of the city itself is relatively flat, some of the outskirts and far Eastern parts are hilly. Neighborhoods in the old town in particular are well known for their steep streets and landscape.
The river Miljacka flows through the city from east to west and is one of the city's chief geographic features. The source of the river Bosna, Vrelo Bosne is found on the city's outskirts near Ilidža and is one of the most well known natural landmarks in the country.
The city is surrounded by five major mountains. They are part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range that winds through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia and Montenegro. The mountains are popular tourist attractions for hiking and skiing. In alphabetical order they are:
- Bjelašnica: 2067 meters (6782 feet), Southwest
- Igman: 1502 meters (4928 feet), Southwest
- Jahorina: 1913 meters (6276 feet) Southeast
- Trebević: 1627 meters (5338 feet), Southeast
- Treskavica: 2088 meters (6950 feet) North
Sarajevo itself is part of Bosnia proper, known for it's mountainous and heavily forested landscape. Natural disasters pose little threat in the region, although small earthquakes have been known to occur.
Climate
Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the North and the Mediterranean to the South. Sarajevo experiences warm summers, with temperatures of 35°C (95°F) not being uncommon, and cold winters when snow is guaranteed due to the city's high latitude. Sarajevo has three major weather stations. They are located on Bjelašnica mountain, Butmir, and in the city itself.
The warmest month of the year is July, when the average temperature is about 19°C (66°F), although August's average temperature is only a degree lower. The coldest month of the year is January when the average temperature is -1°C (30°F). The average year-round temperature is 10°C (45°F).
Sarajevo receives about 905 mm (36 in) of precipitation a year. The rainiest month is October when the city receives 89.4 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall. The dryest is February when the city gets a mere 61.4 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Average air pressure at the city's elevation is 942.3 mb, and this varies little throughout the year.
History
Template:History of Sarajevo2 Main Article: History of Sarajevo
The area of present day Sarajevo has a long and rich history dating back to the Stone age, when the Butmir Culture flourished in the area. However, little material evidence of this is available, mostly due to later construction. Several Illyrian settlements existed in the area before it was conquered by Rome in 9 ad. During Roman times, a town named Aquae Sulphurae existed on the location of present day Ilidža, a Sarajevo suburb to the southwest of the city.
The year usually mentioned as the city's founding is 1461, when the first Ottoman governor of Bosnia, Isa-beg Ishaković, transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a mosque, a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and the Governor's castle (Saray) which gave the city its present name. Sarajevo flourished in the 16th century when its greatest donor and builder Gazi Husrev-beg built most of what is now the old city. By the late 17th century, Sarajevo was the most important city in the Balkans after Istanbul.
In a raid led by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697 against the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. The city was later rebuilt, but never fully recovered from the destruction. The capital of Bosnia was transferred to Travnik. In 1878, Bosnia was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and Sarajevo was quickly brought up to the standards of the industrial age.
In the event that triggered the World War I, Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914. Following the war, in the kingdom of Yugoslavia, Sarajevo was the capital of the Drina banovina. After World War II, Sarajevo grew rapidly as it became an important regional industrial center in Yugoslavia. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevo's architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occurred in early 1980s, when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics.
On April 6, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by forces of Bosnian Serbs. The warfare that lasted until the October of 1995 resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts (See Siege of Sarajevo for details). Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in 1995. By 2003 most of the city had been rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city center. Modern business buildings and skyscrapers have since been constructed throughout the city.
Government
In terms of politics, Sarajevo is the most important city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the capital of the entire country, as well as the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina sub-entity. Sarajevo is also the obvious center of politics for the Sarajevo Canton. It is comprised of four different municipalities and is one of the few cities in the country with a seperate city government. Pale, the official capital of Republika Srpska is located not far from the city in that sub-entity's territory. Sarajevo is the location of numerous other important political structures, such as dozens of foreign embassies. City government is split into the traditional three branches of democratic government.
Executive Branch
The city government’s executive branch (Bosnian "Gradska Uprava") consists of the mayor, his cabinet, and numerous city organizations that help in the governing of the city. The mayor is the chief of city politics, and has two deputies, along with a number of advisors in the cabinet. The role of the executive branch in city government is outlined in the city constitution. The job of the mayor, as outlined in that document, is:
- Carry out the executive politics of the City of Sarajevo
- Prepare laws and other acts for the good of the city
- Command the resolution of city problems
- Inspect and keep up the city government
- Answer the questions of the council members at the City Council
- Carry out other jobs in accordance with the city’s statutes and laws
The current mayor of Sarajevo is Muhidin Hamamdžić, from the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city deputy mayors are Željko Komšić and Slavo Vlaški, who belong to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the SDP respectivelly. They are joined by a secretary and a number of advisors. All in all, the current mayor and cabinet of the city of Sarajevo's executive branch look something like this:
- Mayor: Muhidin Hamamdžić
- Deputies: Željko Komšić, Slavo Vlaški
- Advisors:
- Kemal Bajramović
- Sabina Hadžiahmetović
- Fatima Hasanović
- Ramiz Kadić
- Sabahudin Pelja
To help the mayor carry out the executive duties of the city, the executive branch also consists of several city services, or "organizations". They are:
- City Service for Running of the Region: (Gradska služba za opću upravu) is responsible for all jobs and problems that by their nature would not fit into any of the other city services, as well as other jobs it is deemed responsible for by higher levels of city government.
- City Service for the Finances: (Gradska služba finansija) Is responsible for managing the city's budget as well as doing other jobs related to the city's financial prosperity.
- City Service for Local Employment: (Gradska služba za lokalno poslovanje) watches over the jobs available in the cities, and ensures the prosperity of local businesses, tourism, and goodwill organizations.
- City Service for City Planning: (Gradska služba za urbano planiranje) Does jobs in the region relating to urban planning, the use of local land, and the status of city property.
- City Service for Communal Jobs: (Gradska služba za komunalne poslove) Carries out jobs in the fields of: traffic, water, sewage, waste disposal, heating, gas, etc. etc.
Legislative Branch
The main legislative body of the city of Sarajevo is the ‘’Gradsko Vijeće’’, or City Council. Councilmen are elected by municipality according to population, with Novi Grad municipality recieving the most seats in the city council and Stari Grad municipality the least. The council is headed by the council speaker, two deputies, and a secretary, and consists of 24 members. Currently, of these 28, 15 belong to the SDP, 7 to the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5 to SDA, and 1 to the HDZ. As of 2004, the city council looks something like this:
- President: Mira Hadrić-Winterhalter
- Deputies: Emin Svrakić, Vladimir Zubić
- Council Members: Kemal Begović, Edhem Biber, Igor Bjelošević, Mustafa čuplov, Sanela Dizdar, Vesna Filipović, Zdravka Gutić, Aida Habul, Nihad Imamović, Mehmedalija Jalovčić, Milica Jauz, Drago Jurić, Tatjana Ljujić-Mijatović, Goran Memić, Sead Muhamedagić, Ismet Ovčina, Božidar Pašagić, Jasenko Selimović, Nedžad Selmanović, Faruk Sijarić, Aleksandra Softić, Džemo Tucak, Muhamed Zeco, Anto Zelić
Judicial Branch
As the center of Canton Sarajevo, the city is also the center of judicial procedures for the area, based on the post-transitional judicial system for the country as outlined by the High Representative and his plans for the “High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils” of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002. The BiH Constitutional Court is also located in Sarajevo, consisting of nine members. Four of these are selected by the house of representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, two by Republika Srpska's national assembly, and three foreign members are selected by the president of the European Court of Human Rights. The supreme court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Cantonal court of Sarajevo Canton are also located in Sarajevo. Sarajevo is also the center of law training and education for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Demographics
Since no official census has been taken since 1991, the precise population of Sarajevo cannot be known for certain. However the latest estimates from the Sarajevo Canton government, dating from December 2002 are generally thought to be fairly accurate. They put the total population of the city of Sarajevo at 297,399 residents and the number of people in the greater Sarajevo region at 401,118. A more recent unofficial estimate has the population of Sarajevo in late 2003 at 412,526.
According to the official government statistics, Sarajevo's population density is 2470.1 per square kilometer. The most densely populated part of Sarajevo is in the municipality Novo Sarajevo (7524.5 inhabitants per square kilometer), while the least densely populated is Stari Grad municipality (742.5 inhabitants per square kilometer).
Regarding the age structure of Sarajevo, the overwhelming majority of people are between 15 and 64 years of age. This group consists of 208,703 people, or a little over 70% of the total city population. When it comes to people 14 years of age or under and people over 65 years of age, the youth have a slight edge. There are 47,558 people under 14 years of age in Sarajevo, making up 16% of the overall population, compared to 41,138 people over 65 years of age who make up 13.8% of the total population. Novi Grad municipality has the highest percentage of citizens under 14 years of age in the city, at 17.4%, while 17.5% of Novo Sarajevo municipality's population is over 65 years of age. Overall, the city's population is slightly older than it's surrounding areas or the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole.
The biggest ethnic group in Sarajevo are the Bosniaks, who with more than 230,000 people make up 77.4% of the city. They are followed by the Serbs, of which there are some 35,000 (12% of the city), and Croats with a population of 22,380 (7.5% of the total population). 9,283 people (3.1% of overall population) are classified as others. They most likely consist of Sephardi Jews, and Roma, along with a small number of foreign workers.
The city's birth rate is 9.17 while the mortality is 8.10, resulting in a population growth rate of 1.07%. The greater Sarajevo area meanwhile has a 9.56 birth rate and 8.01 mortality rate, which makes for a population growth rate of about 1.55%. This would indicate a population of 303,797 in the city by December 2004, and a population of 413,649 in the metropolitan area. If current growth trends continue, the city's population should reach the pre-war population in less than 25 years. The metro area would do the same a bit sooner, in some 15 years. Depending on regional stability, immigration, and growth and development, it's not unreasonable to except the city's population to breach 1,000,000 inhabitants by the middle of the 21st century.
Historical Population
Historically Sarajevo had always been a very populous city, but as the Ottoman Empire declined, so did its population. Although it had around 100,000 people in the 1660s, by the end of World War II in the 1940s Sarajevo had only grown to some 115,000 people. Heavy industrialization and increased importance in regional affairs during the time of Yugoslavia resulted in a rapid increase however, and by the time of the 1984 Olympics the greater Sarajevo area had more than 500,000 residents. Although exact ethnic distribution is unknown, of these 500,000, 49% were Muslim, 30% Orthodox Christians, and 7% Catholics, indicating relatively corresponding percentages of Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats.
The Yugoslav Wars and the resulting Siege of Sarajevo radically disrupted this order of things. The city was completely surrounded by Bosnian Serb forces, and it has been estimated that some 12,000 people were killed, with another 50,000 wounded. Combined with horrific living conditions forced upon by the aggressors, the result was thousands of refugees leaving the city. By 1996, Sarajevo had less than 300,000 residents. In the years that followed, a tremendous influx of returning refugees and people from a war torn countryside has resulted in the city population once again going above 300,000 residents.
The following are some recorded populations of Sarajevo throughout it's history. The figure from 1660 is based on the accounts of traveling writers who estimated that Sarajevo at the time had 20,000 houses, and figures an average of 5 people per house. All latter figures are based on official censuses by Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and Socialist Yugoslavia, except for 2002 which is an estimate by the Sarajevo Canton government. All figures represent the city alone, without the Sarajevo metro.
- 1660: 100,000+ inhabitants
- 1910: 51,919
- 1921: 66,317
- 1931: 78,173
- 1945: 115,000
- 1971: 359,448
- 1991: 429,672
- 2002: 291,318
Economy
Sarajevo is economically one of the strongest regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Like many other major cities, it's economy is largely based on industries such as manufacturing and tourism. As the center of various levels of area politics, many Sarajevo citizens also work in government. A number of local and international companies are present in the city and contribute to its economic health.
Sarajevo's economy reached its peak in the 1980s, thanks in large part to the culmination of several decades of industrial development and a tourist boom following the Olympics, as well as increased international investment. During the Siege of Sarajevo, the Bosnian Serb forces often targeted structures key to the city’s economic health, including the headquarters of companies and many services and public utilities. Since then, the Sarajevo economy has made tremendous progress, significantly better than it's post-war state in 1996.
Sarajevo's manufacturing deals with a wide array of products. This includes production of Foods and Beverages, textiles, furniture, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and metalworking. Sarajevo companies also produce unique brands of alcohol, and cigarettes.
According to Sarajevo Canton statistics, the greater Sarajevo area in 2002 had a work force of 278,341. 86,012 (30.6%) of these are, on average, actually employed. Of these 86,012, some 37,253, or 43,3%, are women. The largest number of people are employed in industry (19.4%), trade (12.9%), transport (9.9%),and education (8.7%). The largest concentratoin of jobs is in Centar municipality (34.5%),and Novo Sarajevo (20.8%).
In 2002 the total export for the greater Sarajevo region was worth about 259,569,000KM. This was an increase of 21.9% from the previous year. Most of Sarajevo's exports (28.2%) head to Germany, with Great Britian following behind at 16.8% and Serbia and Montenegro thirds with 12.8%. The largest amount of imported goods come from Germany, at 15.8%. With a worth of total import at about 1,322,585,000KM, the total import is almos 5.1 times the total export.
A variety of important economic institutions are to be found in Sarajevo. The central bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the city, as are numerous other independent banks. Overall 19 different banks have their headquarters in Sarajevo. The city also holds the Sarajevo Exchange of securities, Institute for accounting and auditing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Board for valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Register of valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Foreign companies with a foothold in the Sarajevo region include Harris Communications, Brown & Root, and, most notably, Coca Cola. The Bosnian-Malaysian firm Bosmal is also situated in the city.
Major Companies
Major companies based in Sarajevo include:
- Air Bosna (Currently not in operation)
- BH Telecom
- Bosmal
- Bosnalijek
- Dnevni Avaz
- Energopetrol
- Oslobodenje
- Fabrika Duhana Sarajevo (Sarajevo Tobacco Factory)
- Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery)
- Unioninvest
Communications and Media
As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is naturally the main center of the country's media. Most of the country's major television channels are based in the city, as are the most popular newspapers and magazines.
Newspapers are the most popular and most well established forms of media. The two most popular and credible daily newspapers are the Oslobodenje and the Dnevni Avaz, The buildings of both of these are adjacent to each other, situated in Novi Grad municipality, making the spot the center of the Bosnian media world.
The Dnevni Avaz (the Daily Avaz)is today the most succesfull of the two. It was established in 1996 in the Sanjak region. It is known to have ties with the powerful Party of Democratic Action, which some take to explain it's success. The Oslobodenje is the older and more well known of the two. Meaning "The Liberation", it was established in Sarajevo following World War II as the communist party's newspaper.
As well as professional newspapers, Sarajevo is also home to a variety of magazines and political tabloids, such as Slobodna Bosna, Dani, and Walter, all of which have a high circulation.
Television is very popular in Sarajevo, even though for most people the number of channels is somewhat limited. Satellites allow for a number of foreign channels to be watched, but the most popular are the local news stations based in the city. FTV is the television of the federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while there is also a Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the entire country. A Sarajevo Canton television is also available.
After the government affiliated channels there are several other television stations, perhaps the most prominent being NTV Hayat (Independent Television Hayat). Television stations from Croatia are also available, as is Serbian Eastern European media giant RTV Pink, with Pink BH Company, the local branch based in Bijeljina.
Many small independent radio stations exist, although the majority listen to the more established ones such as ISV Radio, Radio M, Radio Grad, and RSG. RSG, Radio Stari Grad (Radio Old Town) is the most popular of these. Radio Free Europe can still be heard, and several American and West European stations are available for listening as well.
Communications wise, the telephone code for Sarajevo Canton is 033 which must be entered before dialing a phone number in the area from outside it or from a cell phone. Cell phones from the Sarajevo Canton have a seperate code, 061.
Computers, once rare, are now fairly common, although Internet connection can still be relatively expensive. As only Dial-up access is present, many prefer instead to go to Internet cafes, which are now to be found by the dozens in all areas of the city. There is talk of broadband Internet access arriving in the near future.
Municipalities
The city of Sarajevo consists of 4 Municipalities, territories that are somewhat the Bosnian equivalent of the United States’ counties or New York City’s boroughs. The Bosnian word for them is "Općina". They are, Centar (Center), Novi Grad, (New Town) Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad (Old Town). Like the city at large, all of the Municipalities have their own regional government, including a foreman, councils, and various Municipality services.
Centar
Main Article: Centar Municipality
Centar Municipality is located in central Sarajevo, between the older parts of the city under Stari Grad Municipality, and the more modern parts of the city under the Municipalities Novi Grad and Novo Sarajevo. Centar Municipality houses most major branches of the city and national government. Today Centar Municipality has some 67,316 citizens.
Novi Grad
Main Article: Novi Grad Municipality
The Westernmost of the four Municipalities that make up the City of Sarajevo is Novi Grad Municipality. During the 1970s, Sarajevo was undergoing a rapid economic and cultural development, with great expansion focused on population and industry. Novi Grad Municipality was a direct result of this period of heavy growth, in which many acres of previously unused land were transformed into Communist urban centers filled with apartment buildings. By the time Novi Grad Municipality was formally recognized, it had some 60,000 citizens, in 18 neighborhoods.
Novo Sarajevo
Main Article: Novo Sarajevo Municipality
Novo Sarajevo Municipality (New Sarajevo) is also a product of Sarajevo's massive growth and development in the 1960s and 1970s. It is located in the middle of the Sarajevo field, predominantly on the Northern Bank of the Miljaćka, between Novi Grad and Centar Municipalities. Novo Sarajevo Municipality today has around 66,208 people, of which some two thirds are Bosniaks.
Stari Grad
Main Article: Stari Grad Municipality
Stari Grad Municipality is the oldest and most historically significant part of Sarajevo. At its heart is the Bascarsija, the old town market sector where the city was founded by the Ottomans in the 15th century. Stari Grad Municipality is characterized by its many religious structures, and examples of unique architecture. Stari Grad Municipality features most of the city's historical tourist attractions.
Suburbs
Sarajevo’s suburbs are essentially the 5 Municipalities of Canton Sarajevo that are not included in Sarajevo’s official city limits. Of these 5, only two have a large enough population and are urbanized enough to be considered true suburbs. They are the cities of Ilidža and Vogošća, found in the Municipalities of the same name.
Ilidža
Main Article: Ilidža
Ilidža is the chief suburb of Sarajevo, located just west of Novi Grad Municipality. It is the oldest inhabited part of Sarajevo. Ilidža had some 70,000 citizens prior to the Siege of Sarajevo. Today it is almost fully integrated into Sarajevo proper.
Vogošća
Main Article: Vogošća
Vogošća is the secondary suburb of Sarajevo, located about 6 kilometers north of the city center and covering some 72km². Vogošća was the second most industrious and productive Municipality in the ex-Yugoslavia. Vogošća has a population of around 9000.
Neighborhoods
Like many other major world cities, Sarajevo and its Municipalities are further split into neighborhoods. In Bosnia each Municipality has a number of neighborhoods that themselves have a small function in city government, as well as their own histories and notable features. Among the more prominent Sarajevo neighborhoods by Municipality are:
- Centar Municipality: Bjelave, Breka, Ciglane, Koševsko Brdo, Marijin Dvor, Mejtaš, Skenderija, Velešići
- Novi Grad Municipality: Alipašino Polje, Alipašin Most, Boljakov Potok, Briješće, Dobrinja, Mojmilo, Nedžarići, Otoka
- Novo Sarajevo Municipality: Buća Potok, Crni Vrh, ćengić Vila, Dolac Malta, Grbavica, Hrasno, Pofalići
- Stari Grad Municipality: Baščaršija, Bistrik, Hrastovi, Kovači, Sedrenik, Vratnik
People
The people of Sarajevo are known as “Sarayliyas” (Spelled Sarajlijas in Bosnian). Sarayliyas are known for being very proud and patriotic of their city. The song by popular singer Kemal Monteno, “Sarajevo Ljubavi Moja” (Sarajevo Love of Mine) has come to somewhat epitomize this feeling among the people, and to this day remains something of an unofficial anthem for the city. Bosnians from outside Sarajevo are thought to have the sense that Sarajevo receives too much attention, but this is more of a sibling rivalry than an actual dislike for Sarajevo and its people. Within the city itself, the people of the various Municipalities have somewhat taken up the stereotypes of the regions they live in.
Famous Sarayliyas
People from Sarajevo who have achieved fame or note include:
- Ivo Andrić (born 1892), writer
- Beriz Belkić (born 1946), politician
- Deen (born 1982), singer
- Goran Bregović (born 1950), composer
- Branko Crvenkovski (born 1962), politician
- Asim Ferhatović (born 1933), athlete
- Alija Izetbegović (born 1925), politician
- Miljenko Jergović (born 1966), writer
- Emir Kusturica (born 1954), director
- Vladimir Prelog (born 1906), chemist
- Abdulah Sidran (born 1944), writer
- Boris Tadić (born 1958), politician
Tourism
Ever since the 1984 Olympics, Sarajevo has been a popular tourist attraction (save for the war years in the early 1990s). Indeed, even long before that Sarajevo was a popular stop for travelers in the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian empires, and is mentioned in traveling books from all sides of Europe and the Middle East.
Sarajevo overall has some 50 major hotels, along with numerous smaller motels and hospitality businesses. A variety of travel agencies in the city can help organize a visit. The most famous hotel in Sarajevo is the Holiday Inn, whose distinctive color and location has made it something of a city icon.
Tourism is one of Sarajevo's major industries, and is constantly growing now with stability in the region. Sarajevo's mountain ranges and Olympic facilities make it an ideal location for winter sports. Another reason for Sarajevo's popularity among tourists is its 600 years of accumulated history, which have been impacted by both Western and Eastern empires.
- Notable Tourist Destinations in Sarajevo
- Bašćaršija
- Gazi Husrev-Beg Mosque
- Igman - Bjelašnica
- Sarajevo Cathedral
- Sarajevo Bridges
Transportation
Geographic and historical factors have combined to make Sarajevo a very small city for its population. Due to this and a lack of parking structures, it is very difficult to find places for parking. Sarajevo makes up for this with its traditional old world city planning, which allows for pedestrians to easily walk to wherever they need to go. Bicycling is also practiced, but is not very common.
Public transportation is very common and has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The chief methods of this are tramways, trolleys, and buses. Tramways in fact, were first introduced to Europe in Sarajevo during the late 19th century by Austria-Hungarian officials. The Sarajevo tramway is 16 kilometers long. During the last years of Yugoslavia, a subway was planned as well but never implemented.
Sarajevo International Airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war the airport was used for United Nations flights and humanitarian relief. Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has welcomed a thriving commercial flight business. A highway that connects Sarajevo with Budapest and central Europe is being modernized, but presently it is at some spots little more than a paved countryside road. The speed limit at most parts is 60 or 80 km/h.
Sports
Sports and sporting events played an important part in Sarajevo life well before the city hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics. For instance, one of the city's best-loved sports is football (soccer). The two football clubs, FK Sarajevo and NK Željezničar Sarajevo, both have a long tradition of competing in European and World Cups tournaments.
Another is basketball. The basketball club Bosna Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club Bosna Sarajevo has been a championship team since the 1980s. Sarajevo often holds international events and competitions in various other sports as well, such as tennis and kickboxing.
Overall, Sarajevo has sports clubs to Athletics, Bicycling, Boxing, Football, Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Kickboxing, Skating, Basketball, Bowling, Volleyball, Swimming, Rugby, Gymnastics, Diving, Handball, Chess, Skiing, Snowboarding, Archery, Tennis, and numerous others.
Culture
Sarajevo’s extensive culture is represented in various ways. Numerous cultural festivals occur every year, such as the Bašćaršija Nights, Sarajevo Winter Festival, and the Sarajevo Jazz Festival. Numerous theatres are present in Sarajevo as well, such as the National Theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first ever Bosnian opera was held in Sarajevo in 2003. Historically, Sarajevo was home to several famous Bosnian poets and thinkers during the times of the Ottoman Empire. Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andrić was educated in the city.
Cultural Institutions
- the Bosniak Institute
- International Center for Kids and Youth, New Sarajevo
- Center for Sarajevo Culture
Theatres
- National Theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sarajevo Youth Theatre
Museums
- Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art
- Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Museum of the City of Sarajevo
- Bosnian and Herzegovinian Museum of Literature
- National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Libraries
- Sarajevo City Library
- Interliber
- Gazi Husrev-begs Library
Folklore
As an historic city, Sarajevo has numerous myths and folklore surrounding it. The character Nasrudin Hodza is popular throughout the former lands of the Ottoman Empire, and Sarajevo is no exception. Numerous stories about him dealing with Sarajevo have been written over the years. A famous piece of Sarajevo folklore is the story of the Sarajevo Orthodox Church. It was said that when a request came to build it, authorities required that it go no higher than the tallest minaret in Sarajevo. A wise old man was then said to have advised for the church to be built into the ground. Thus the building reached a proper height but met the restrictions.
Events
Numerous events take place yearly in Sarajevo. With the various religions present, religious holidays are very popular. The month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, Catholic and Orthodox Church Christmas and Easter are all important holidays. Muhammad's birthday, though technically not allowed by conservative Islam, is widely celebrated in Sarajevo.
The Sarajevo Film Festival has been going on since 1995 and has become the premier film festival in the Balkans. Largely due to its size and the success and popularity of cinema in Bosnia, the event has gained considerable importance and often attracts foreign celebrities. The Sarajevo Winter Festival is also well-known, as are the Bašćaršija Nights, a month-long showcase of local culture, music, and dance.
Education
Education has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The first university in Sarajevo was a school of Sufi philosophy established by Gazi Husrev-beg in 1531. Over the years, numerous other religious schools were established as well. The Sarajevo library, in its prime, was in the same category as the Madrassa of Beyazid II. The annexation of Bosnia by Austria-Hungary introduced Sarajevo to Western education. The first high school in Sarajevo was established in 1887. Starting in the 1940s, numerous modern faculties were added to the University of Sarajevo for a wide variety of professions ranging from economics to forestry. Sarajevo today also has 46 elementary schools (Grades 1-8), and 19 high schools (Grades 9-12). The University of Sarajevo includes faculties for medicine, law, agriculture, technical services, philosophy, and economics.
Sarajevo students are required to pass entrance exams into high schools. Unlike in the United States, high school students in Bosnia are prepared for specific occupations and industries. Among the high schools in Sarajevo, there exist those for education, music, medicine, technicians, dentistry, economics, and a variety of other fields of work.
External links
- Sarajevo, MOJ GRAD! – "Sarajevo, My City!" online city guide and web portal (in Bosnian)
- Official Sarajevo city government site (in Bosnian)
- Sarajevo International Airport (in Bosnian and English)
- Tourism Association of Sarajevo (in Bosnian and English)
- United States Embassy in Sarajevo
- Sarajevo X portal
- Interactive Map of Sarajevo