About Sarajevo
Sarajevo is administrative and cultural capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nested between rugged mountains of Romanija, Bjelašnica and Trebević and split by Miljacka River, Sarajevo is stretched across an area known as Sarajevo Field. There are numerous archeological findings attesting to settlements in this area dating back to the Neolithic period, as well as records that point to significant Ilyiran presence in the area. The medieval town of Hodidjed was located in the vicinity of today's Sarajevo; however, the sheer name of the city (from Turkish saray - court and ovasi - field) indicates that Sarajevo is a creation of the Ottoman Empire.
It is generally accepted that Sarajevo is founded in the mid 15th century by the Ottoman governor of Bosnia - Isa-bey Ishakovic - to house the area's Ottoman government.
The general plan for development of Sarajevo was adopted in 1945, and the city that suffered tremendous losses during World War II, was not only rebuilt but considerably expanded as well. Sarajevo almost tripled in size during its third expansion occurring in the formative years of socialist Yugoslavia. By 1984, when the city hosted 14th Winter Olympic Games, Sarajevo was a modern city of around 500,000 people.
Unfortunately, the Olympic flame was to flicker for a brief period of time only. Eight years later, in 1992, Sarajevo was trapped in a siege that lasted until the end of 1995. In addition to being exposed to daily sniper and mortar fire, the inhabitants of the city suffered severe shortages of food and fuel during the nearly four-year siege. Thousands of mortars fell upon the city, killing many and severally damaging it. The only life-line was an 800-meter-long tunnel, dubbed Tunnel of Hope, through which food and other supplies were brought in. To fight back the despair, people of Sarajevo attempted to preserve some degree of normalcy. Consequently, classes were held in bomb shelters, plays were shown in basement make-shift theaters, and Sarajevo's famed Sarajevo Film Festival was held in the besieged city in the summer of 1995.
Coffee is a national drink of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The drink was introduced to Bosnia with the arrival of Ottomans. Traditional Bosnian coffee is prepared in special coffee pots (džezva) and served in miniature coffee cups (fildžan).
Sarajevo is the city rich in extraordinary natural beauty including mountains, rivers, and lush valleys, but, its most valuable asset is the peoples' openheartedness. The culture of life here has survived through the pre-historic and ancient times, the mediaeval times, through the Ottoman and Austrian-Hungarian era, to present day. Nowhere in Europe is there such a richness and diversity of nature, historical and cultural heritage with its many historical and cultural monuments as well as attractive tourist destinations.
There is something irresistible about Sarajevo that might entice you to stay much longer than planned.
