Sarajevo

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina , geographically it is situated in central part of the country. Sarajevo is Political, cultural and economical center of country, as well as border  Balkan area. Population of Sarajevo is around 450 000 inhabitants, established in 1462 in area of old midlevel settlement .Throughout the history Sarajevo was marked by influence of different cultures. Because of that, Sarajevo is the city in which can be seen preserved architecture form ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and socialists 20th century era.

Sarajevo is surrounded wonderful mountains on which where hosted 14th winter Olympic games.

Today, Sarajevo is modern dynamic, open and welcoming city that will leave long lasting pleasant memories to all its visitors  

Historic trading center of Sarajevo since ottoman period. Represents most attractive part of the city.  Meaning of Baščaršija “main part of downtown “ Wider area of Baščaršija encompass many cultural-historical landmarks, shops with traditional handcraft products, cafe shops  and restaurants that serve traditional cuisine ,bezistan (Ottoman style shopping center)offering different goods.

Begova Mosque

Represents most significant building of Ottoman architecture outside today’s Turkey

Mosque was built in 1532. By very prominent figure of  Bosnian history ,Bosnian governor Gazi Husrev Bey.

This mosque is characterized by monumental size,45 m high minaret, wide courtyard of the mosque. The mosque itself is surrounded by many endowments that where established by Gazi Husref Bey, which are known as Vakufs of Gazi Husref Bey which till this day are functional.

Breake for a lunch

Guest will try trtaditional traditional meal in one of the restaurants in Baščaršija Ćevapi (minced meet wit traditonaly made bread served with onion and white cream a side)or Pie Baščaršiji. This is traditional food by which Sarajevo is famous in whole world.

After lunch departure to Vrelo Bosne (Favorite outing destination for Sarajevans)

Vrelo Bosne

Is situated beneath Igman  mountain, Vrelo Bosne (Source of the river Bosna) is just 15 Km from downtown Sarajevo. Bosnia is one of reara countries in the world that has country and river have same name. Vide area of Vrelo Bosne is composes large natural park with unique ecological protection.

At the very beginning, source of river Bosna is branching out, forming small lakes which are inhabited by Swans. In all directions visitors are surrounded by beautiful sceneries of mountain, forests and glades.

Entrance to this park is very attractive by itself, it leads through 3 Km walnut alley, through which you can ride a carriage pulled by the horses.

In the park itself, there are restaurants and coffee shops.

Return to the hotel and free time            

Guests are free to spend their time on their own

Visit to Svrzoʾs house

Svrzoʾs house

House got its name by its owners, wealthy treading family of Svrzo. House was built in 18th century and represents the best preserved  family house from Ottoman period.  House represent a complex  consisting of  man and women part, of the house, special separate part as a guest house (musafirhana)and two large courtyards.

In lower part of the house are kitchen and storage. Complete interior of the house with its decoration and furniture has been preserved in its original shape. Spacious and richly decorated interior ,captures with its richness ,artistic decorations, wood carvings, carpets and authentic dishware.

 As a witness of high living culture, and exceptional sense for personal hygiene, witness shower cabins in almost every room. In This house as nowhere else, one can feel authentic spirit of life  from the  Ottoman period.

Visit to the museum of Alija Izetebegović

This museum is dedicated to the first democratically elected president of independent Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the greatest Muslim leaders of the 20th century

Alija izetbegović Museum is situated in historic building, fortress from 18th century in old part of Sarajevo In area named Kovači. Alija Izetbegović wasn’t just statesmen and politician, but also worlds thinker and Humanist, whose social role marked nineties of the  last century, and left positive mark not only on  Bosnia and Herzegovina but whole Islamic world.

In this very attractive museum space, life of this great leader is on display during  the period when he stood as a head of state, which was defending itself against brutal aggression from Serbia and Montenegro from one and Croatia from Other side. Through of exhibits of  various of personal belongings, numerous international prizes as well as archive materials and images, one can grasp the magnitude of  the struggle of Bosnian people for their freedom and  leadership of Alija izetbegović.

Break for lunch Lunch in local restaurant

Visit to shopping mall Sarajevo City Center

 Sarajevo City Center

Largest shopping center in Bosnian and Herzegovina is the most modern architectural building in Sarajevo. It is situated in center of Sarajevo and offers wide variety of commodities and clothing of world’s famous brands, as well as rich gastronomic services with numerous coffee shops, restaurants and sweet shops, Perfect place ,where you can spend large part of your day and if you are coming with kids, Sarajevo City Center with its playroom.

Dinner in Bosnian traditional restaurant Inat kuća

Inat kuća – House of spite

One of the most famous restaurants in Sarajevo, with rich variety of traditional Bosnian food to chose from. Interior of this restaurant is especially attractive decorated in manner of old Bosnian house. This restaurant is related to many legends, and based on of them, restaurant got its name.

Whole day trip: Rafting on Neretva river

(The Best Kept Secret of SFR Yugoslavia, facility D-0, with the code name “Istanbul” and later nicknames “Army’s Reserve Command”, “Atomic War Command” and “Tito’s bunker”, was built in complete secrecy over the course of 26 years – between 1953 and 1979. The construction costs amounted to 4.6 billion US dollars, which would today equal to more than 10 billion US dollars. Located near the town of Konjic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is known as the third biggest investment of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The core purpose of the Object D-0 ARK was to take in, accommodate and protect Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito and members of Headquarters of the Supreme Command, the Presidency and the Government of Yugoslavia, and enable their successful management and command over the armed forces in case of country crisis and nuclear warfare.

The Cold War (in which SFRY had a very specific role), was time of fears of a nuclear disaster, but also a time of utopian ideas about world peace and the present time, which is characterized by an apocalyptic scenario of the end of the world. Hence, object D-0 was created to make sure that important persons and intelligence of Yugoslavia would survive that cataclysm.

The construction of the object began in 1953, as decided by the highest-ranking commanders of the former Yugoslav People’s Army. The information about the object was known only to Tito himself, Chief of Federal Secretary of People’s Defense (SSNO), Chief of Headquarters of Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA), Chief of State Security Administration, and Chief of Communications of Federal Secretary of People’s Defense. In 1979 the object was officially handed to the crew of former JNA, which consisted of 16 officers.

The object occupies a space of approximately 6.400 square meters with its lowest point at 280 meters below ground, and is made up of 12 connected blocks in which one may find residential areas, conference rooms, offices, strategic planning rooms, and other areas. The object is divided into 3 major parts: 1. Outer area (above-ground) which consists of 3 buildings resembling weekend cottages to provide camouflage for the three entrances into the object 2. Tunnels which connect the outer and the protected part of the object and which aim to amortize the nuclear strike 3. Protected area of the object where 21 systems were built to technically maintain the object. The capacity of the protected area of the object “ARK” can accommodate 350 persons for an indefinite amount of time and give them protection from a nuclear strike of 25 kilotons, while offering optimal life and work conditions by maintaining the constant air temperature of 21 to 23 Celsius degrees and relative air humidity of 50 to 60 promiles.

Today the facility is  preserveing intact with all its symbols of the social, economical, political and ideological system of Socialist Yugoslavia and  since 2011. when first exibition of contemporary art biennial project happenswith the fact that during the war of the 1990s many monuments in the former Yugoslavia were destroyed, ARK is  a unique exhibition space, a nontraditional artistic setting from both a psychological and intellectual point of view. Therefore since 2011. D-0 ARK is becoming hybrid museum between  military, historical  and contemporay artefacts.

The complete secrecy of D-0 was kept until after the breakup of Yugoslavia – in 1992, when the Yugoslav Peoples’ Army soldiers left the object and handed it over to Territorial Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later Army of B&H and Armed Forces of B&H.

However, the veil of secrecy still heavily surrounded the object up until 2000, when guided tours became available only for diplomats in B&H who were given a special permission of the Ministry of Defense of B&H.

Guided tours for general public became available only in 2011, when Ministry of Defense of B&H, in presence of NATO, proclaimed that the object had no military perspective, everything moved by the idea of contemporary art project called “Biennial D-0 ARK Underground” which was implemented for the first time and proclaimed as cultural event of Eurpe by Council od Europe.

From that moment on, the object whose infrastructure is preserved intact with all its symbols of the social, economic, political and ideological system of Socialist Yugoslavia and up-to-date technology of the past, opened its doors to visits from all around the world.

Since 2011, “Tito’s bunker” is a home to the first exhibition of contemporary art biennial project “Biennial D-0 ARK”. After the devastating war in the 1990s in which many monuments in the former Yugoslavia were destroyed, ARK arose as a unique exhibition space and offered a truly nontraditional artistic setting; originally designed as an atomic shelter, an object of great historical significance.  The goal of the Project is to transform a site still officially under military control into a prestigious regional cultural institution at the forefront of emerging artistic trends. The project seeks to preserve cultural heritage and a historical structure, as well as to create artistic value and reestablish broken connections between artists and creative people in the region.).

Return to Sarajevo and free time

Trip to Travnik and break on location of national monument Plava Voda (Blue Water)

Travnik



One of the most famous Bosnian cities with rich history and numerous cultural and historic monuments. Travnik is also know as the city of Vezeers, as it was capital of Bosnia in period of second half of 18th and first half of 19th century. In city is preserved several mosques, among which is especially unique Sulejman – pasha mosque dating back to 1815 this mosques is also known as “colorful mosque“ because of rich decoration of its walls. Other uniqueness of this mosque are that in lower part of building is space for renting, which generates revenue for covering running costs of the mosque while the minaret of the mosque is positioned on the left side of the mosque, which is unusual for Bosnian mosques.



Plava Voda (Blue Water)

Represents complex of old buildings and one of the most beutuful sources of water in Bosnia. Blue water with its natural ambient ,old coffeshops and rosturants makes Blue Water ideal place for rest.

Visit to the Šarena džamija -   “Colorful mosque”

Visit to Jajce waterfalls and Pliva lakes – Plivska jezera    Jajce City

Jajce city is also called the city of kings, as it was place from which Bosnian kings roled from in midevel period of the Bosnian history . Jace city is the city with the most beutuful surroung in Bosnia. Jajce was first time mentioned in historyc documents in 1396.

In Center of Jajce city there are many national monuments 14 to be precise. All of this makes uniqe mix of  antic cristian medivle monuments and thse from ottoman period condense in small area. Old city is surrounded by walls with remaints of watchtowers . Jajce is a city in which is preserverd several very valuable residentainl buildings from Ottoman era, as well as Esma sultneya mosque

Pliva Waterfalls - Plivski vodopad

Only waterfall in Europe, that is situated in center of the city.  It is 22 m high and it is regarded as 12th most beautiful waterfalls in the world . Beauty of the waterfall attracts tourist from all over the world . Waterfall can be observed from close distance as all access walking paths are built beneath it

Pliva Lakes - Plivska jezera

 Pliva lake is situated very close to Jajce city . Large lake is 3,3 Km long  while small lake is around 1 Km long. Between large and small lake is unique attraction where are old water mills which are listed as national treasure. Lakes are surrounded by mountains and thick vegetation. Sightseeing of large lake is possible by electric boats. On the banks of the lakes are picnic area, restaurants and places for rest 

Return to Sarajevo

Visit to war tunnel

The war tunnel

Situeted in part of Sarajevo known as Butmir, close to airport. Museuum was built at the entrence of the entrance of the tunnel, that was only connection  from 92-95 of Sarajevo with outside world leading under the airstrip. Tunnel was used for communication of people, food and medicine delivery as well as weapons that was used for defending of Sarajevo.

In museum can be seen authentic video presentation that tells the story of how tunnel was built, authentic items that were used for the tunnel construction. Small part of the tunnel is open for public, and one can have taste of it.

Whole day trip to the mountains Igman and  Bjelašnica 

Igman and  Bjelašnica

One hour drive from Sarajevo  Igman and Bjelašnica reperesnt well known mountains. Igman and Bjelašnica are olympic mountains where competitons were held during 14th winter olipyic games. Bjelašnica is one of the heighest mountains in Bosnia with its highest peak 2067 meter above sea level,while Igman is 1502 meter above sea level. Both mountains are know by its wast areas densly covered with forest ,water springs and Idyllic hills . Both mountains are atractive for mountainers and hikhers with their pleasant climate during summer .

On Bjelašnica you will find excellent hotels and restaurants ,walking-hiking paths.

On Igman mountain you should visit mosque built in 1993  during the war by the soldiers. Mosque was completely built out of timber.

Mosque symbolizes the resistance of Bosnian people ,against Serb aggression and struggle for preservation of their religion.

Mountain Igman is known as a very cold mountain. Lowest temperature recorded on this mountain was   - 43 °C below zero in winter 1963

Lunch

Lunch at the local restaurant

Visit to “The war mosque” on the Igman Mountain

Return to the hotel and free evening time

Guests can spend evening on their own

Guests are free to spent whole day on their own and rest (Advise guests where to go for shopping in Sarajevo)

Departure of the guests  Gests are packing and getting ready for transfer to the airport.