One of the hidden gems in Europe is Serbia. It is situated between the Central and South East Europe and thus this will assure you of a wonderful adventure ahead. Start it off by exploring the capital, Belgrade, where the center of economy and tourism always is. Then take a quick stop and fill yourself with the rich culture that this country has to offer by visiting The Nikola Tesla Museum, where the different inventions of the great Tesla could be found. For the children, they definitely would enjoy the visit in the Belgrade Zoo, where different animals could be found and experienced. This visit is a sure hit for the entire family.
Serbia – Interesting and Important Facts
- The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, a beautiful city built on the Danube. With about couple million inhabitants it is the biggest Serbian city, its cultural and economic center
- The Serbian clock making industry is older than the Swiss. Serbs had their own clock 600 years earlier.
- At 77,474 square kilometres (without Kosovo), Serbia is smaller than Portugal and around two-thirds the size of the US state of New York.
- Serbia is largely mountainous. Its northeast section is part of the rich, fertile Danubian Plain drained by the Danube, Tisa, Sava, and Morava river systems.
- Only Serbia and Belgium took part in forming the new Europe, apart from the great powers.
- Serbia is a landlocked country, situated in the Central and Southeastern Europe. It is enclosed by Hungary in the north; Romania and Bulgaria in the east and south; and Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in the west.
- Beograd (Belgrade) is one of the oldest cities in Europe, first settled in the 3rd century BC by the Celts, before becoming the Roman settlement of Singidunum.
- Belgrade won the title of ‘City of the Future’ for Southern Europe, in a contest sponsored by The Economist/FDI Magazine
- Serbia is the largest raspberry exporter, accounting for one third of all the raspberries in the world. Close to 95 percent of the world’s top quality raspberries come from Serbia.
- Silver lake, also called Serbian sea, is the largest lake in Serbia. It is very popular for being one of the clearest and the cleanest lakes in the country
Serbia – Cool, Fun and Funny Facts
- Vampire is the only Serbian word which was accepted worldwide.
- Serbs lived in the land of the pharaohs.
- Kalemegdan is the most popular park in Belgrade because of the park’s numerous winding walking paths, shady benches, picturesque fountains, random statues, mammoth historical architecture and incredible river views.
- The Cathedral of Saint Sava or Hram svetog Save in Belgrade is the largest Orthodox Church currently in use.
- Prince Michael Street is the main walking street in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is a pedestrian zone and shopping center, protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable landmarks of the city.
- The Old Downtown Church that stands in the downtown section of Cacak is home to a religious building that has been turned into a mosque a record ten times.
- Excluding the great powers, Serbia and Belgium were the only countries that went onto forming the European Union.
- Europe’s largest gorge, the Djerdap Gorge is situated inn Serbia. The mighty Danube River flows through it.
- Serbia and Montenegro were the remaining two republics of rump Yugoslavia, forming a loose federation.
Serbia – Historical and Cultural Facts
- During the 3rd and 4th century 18 Roman emperors were born on the territory of modern day Serbia. That’s a fifth of all the rulers of the Roman Empire.
- The Miroslav Gospel, written in the twelfth century, is the oldest preserved Serbian manuscript
- The first satellite video transmission between Europe and North America in 1963 was a picture of the Serbian fresco of the White Angel from Monastery Milesevo.
- Serbia gained independence on November 25, 1918.
- The Republic of Serbia was formed on June 6, 2006.
- Quite often, the elders have to stay wake overnight. That is the right time to tell old stories and songs to the kids. Those are the stories of past battles and heroes.
- Besides music, Serbs like sports. They are excellent in tennis – with their Novak Đoković as one of the best in the world. Their basketball team quite often won against best teams of the world –even USA. They are respected opponents in water polo and handball. But, what they especially like is the soccer (which they call football, as all other Europeans do).
- People in Serbia and Montenegro eat in continental style, with a fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand.
- The extended family is still strong, but young people prefer to move into their own apartment.
- Serbians frequently visit one another, and it is an important part of the culture to keep close ties with family.
