Sirogojno

Sirogojno is a village in Serbia located on Mt. Zlatibor. In Sirogojno there is also an open air museum, or "ethno-village" known as the Old Village Museum (Serbian: Muzej "Staro selo"), covering nearly 5 hectares with authentic elements of ordinary life collected from all over the Zlatibor region from the 19th century. The ethno-village displays a set of traditional wooden buildings, including a bakery, a dairy, and an inn (eating house), all in authentic form.

The village of Sirogojno was declared a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance in 1983, and it is protected by the Republic of Serbia.

 

The main house dates from 1882. It belonged to the family Lazović from Alin Potok. The house is divided into two rooms – ''house'' and ''room''. ''House'' is without attic and windows, with earthen floor. The central place in the ''house'' was the hearth – rectangular or circular surface covered with two stone stone pillars (prijeklada) about 35 – 40cm high, built in at the edges of one of the shorter sides of the fireplace. The hearth was used for food preparation and it was a gathering place for all the members of large family. The hearth is also a ritual site of the house, where the most important family rites took place and the ceremonies related to significant national holidays.

Church of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles

The Serbian Orthodox church in Sirogojno was built in 1764. It is dedicated to the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, as is written on the royal doors beside the signature of icon painter Simeon Lazovic (Lazović). The village graveyard is located next to the church. The reconstruction of the original layout of the church in Sirogojno was based on special preserved manuscripts, protocols, records, and other historical sources.

Price is 150,00 RSD.

Organized school visits: 100,00 RSD
Groups (over 10 guests): 120,00 RSD
Family ticket: 400,00 RSD
Entrance is free of change for children under 7

The Miroslav Gospels – manuscript from 1180

The Miroslav Gospel, a liturgical book produced in around 1180 is an illuminated manuscript with stylistic and iconographic characteristics resulting from the blending of West (Italian) and East (Byzantine) influences and containing miniatures of exceptional beauty.It is also one of the most influential artistic testimonies that represent road  from West to East . 

 It is the earliest preserved Serbian illustrated manuscript, dating from the 12^th century and written in Cyrillic, with the status of a national treasure and declared as an cultural property of exceptional importance. The Miroslav Gospels are also one of the most beautiful manuscript books in the world, whose global importance has been affirmed by its inclusion in 2005 in the UNESCO Memory of the World register which currently comprises only 120 documents of exceptional and universal importance.

The name was acquired by its founder, Prince Miroslav, brother, Grand Duke Stefan Nemanja. It is assumed that it was written and decorated in the church of St. Peter and Paul in Bijelo Polje. By its composition it is a liturgical books in which texts are arranged according to the readings during the church year. Text Miroslav's Gospel was written in pen, in two columns, black, and most of the headlines are red. The book contains 296 miniatures drawned by pen, painted with a brush, red, green, yellow and white and decorated with gold.

The original of the Miroslav Gospels is kept in the National Museum in Belgrade, with the Serbian National Library responsible for its conservation and protection. There is a special edition with of 299 copies in the major world libraries, and a digital edition is available too.

 Nikola Tesla’s Archive

As part of the UNESCO Memory of the World program, Nikola Tesla’s Archive (2003)  from Serbia has been added to the World Documentary Heritage register.

Nikola Tesla’s Archive is a unique collection of manuscripts – scientific documents that are irreplaceable in the study of the most important period in the history of the development of the modern age.
Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), an American scientist of Serbian origin, made his greatest contribution to science and the technological advance of mankind as the discovering or inventing the rotating magnetic field, the induction motor, multi-phase alternating current, the generator and a complete system for the production and distribution of electrical energy. The international SI unit for the measurement of magnetic induction, the tesla, was named after him. Tesla constructed a high frequency and current electrical generator, today known as the Tesla transformer or the Tesla coil.

The Nikola Tesla Museum is a unique scientific and cultural institution, both in Serbia and worldwide.In Belgrade, it is located in Krunska Street. It is the only museum preserving the authentic and personal effects of Nikola Tesla, an exceptionally valuable collection.: over 160,000 original documents, over 2,000 books and magazines, over 1200 historical technical exhibits, over 1,500 photographs and photo plates of original, technical objects, instruments and devices over 1,000 plans and drawings. Alos, here you can find marble pedestal with the urn with Tesla's ashes. After death Tesla was cremated and the urn was transferred to Belgrade in 1957. 

 
Nikola Tesla Museum has an important role in providing information to the researchers of history and science, inventions, patent rights, and projects arising from the movement for environmental research and clean energy sources.

Golija – Studenica Biosphere Reserve

Golija is one of the most beautiful and forest-rich mountains in Serbia. It is located 40 km southwest of Ivanjica and offers a wide variety of holiday and leisure options in almost untouched nature. The highest peak is Jankov Kamen, at 1833 m.

Since 2001, Golija mountain has been under state protection as the Golija Nature Park, which was placed in category I as a natural resource of exceptional importance. Because of the exceptionally well-preserved natural environment, but also because of its cultural resources, the committee of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve Programme set up the Golija – Studenica Biosphere Reserve within the Golija Nature Park.

The Golijska Reka mountain lodge lies 1408 m above sea-level and has small sports fields and tennis courts. Hiking up to the Jankov Kamen and Novića Brda peaks, as well as the 3 km-long marked keep-fit circuit, is of special interest. Golija mountain is also natural wolf habitat. In early spring, the mountain is crowded with people collecting herbs. There are more than 100 herb species on Golija. In terms of the protection of the maple and its habitats, it is extremely important to say that this species has survived the ice age and that it has been preserved in its original form. Despite its exploitation, Golija has remained rich in forest so that in some areas, trees up to 40 meters tall can be found

In Odvraćenica, 31 km from Novi Pazar, the Golija hotel stands on the site of a former mountain lodge. Golija’s slopes are ideal for skiing because of the very snowy winters, and guests have the use of three ski slopes and two ski-lifts.

The biosphere reserve includes the Studenica Monastery, which is a cultural World Heritage site and a popular tourist attraction.It was established in the late 12th century by Stefan Nemanja.The monastery contains the remains of the first Serbian kings, the remains and the coffin of Stefan Prvovencani. This is where St Sava Nemanjic, the founder's youngest son, wrote the first literary work in the Serbian language and founded the Serbian Orthodox Church, which was separate from that of Byzantium.

Felix Romuliana - Gamzigrad 

The ruins of the luxurious Imperial Roman Palace Felix Romuliana lie in the village of Gamzigrad, south of the Danube, 11 km from Zaječar and 238 km from Belgrade.This archaeological site covers the surface of 6,5 hectares. 

Felix Romuliana was built by the Roman Emperor Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus to glorify his victory over Persians that brought him admiration and glory. Galerius, who was born in this area, raised the palace in the 3^rd and 4^th centuries in honour of himself and his mother Romula, after whom he named it. 

The palace is surrounded by impressive walls which protected the town itself from barbarian attacks. The remains have been discovered of both an older and a more recent fortification, built over a period of some ten years. The northern half includes the imperial palace complex, with its small temple and monumental altar. In the southern half are buildings for public use.

Since 2007 the fortified palace of Felix Romuliana is the part of UNESCO cultural heritage and attracts more and more visitors as well as historians and archaeologists from all over the world. 

The Archaeological Site of Felix Romuliana is also a host of number of cultural events - concerts, perfomances, scholars and scientific conventions, educations, visitations....

Opening hours at the site are from 8am to 7pm, from April to November. Visits can be organized at any time upon previous announcement to the National Museum of Zajecar. Expert guide: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (from 1 April to 31 November)

Attraction is opened all year round (November – March only announced group visits). The entrance fee is paid through ticket price: adults 2€, school children 1.5€, joint ticket for Site and the Museum 3€.

Natural monument: Sopotnica waterfalls

Definition of natural monument: A natural monument is a small, unchanged or partially changed natural region, structure or phenomenon. It has clear physical definition, is recognisable and unique and has special geological, botanical, water and other characteristics. It also includes man-made botanical features with scientific aesthetic, cultural and educational value.

Sopotnica waterfalls 

Sopotnica is renown for its gorgeous icy-cold Sopotnica springs with ancient watermills and the several waterfalls at the height of 1000 meters, just above the tiny village. Surrounded by carpets of stunning fields full of fragrant flowers and medicinal herbs in the very heart of unique eco environment, Sopotnica area was declared by the end of year 2005 for the Nature Park of Serbia. During their stay in Sopotnica village visitors enjoy in various nature-based activities, entirely amazed by wonders and surprises of nature.

The Sopotnice waterfalls are in southwestern Serbia, on the river Sopotnica, on the western slopes of the mountain of Jadovnik. They are located in the distric of Prijepolje in the area of the village of Sopotnica.

This monument of nature includes the source of the surface course of the river Sopotnica, with a number of springs which form rivulets. These rivulets first combine and then branch out to form a series of waterfalls. Another major attraction besides the rivulets and waterfall are the old, restored water mills. The most attractive is the Veliki vodopad (‘Great Waterfall’).

The plant life of Sopotnica comprises 62 varieties, of which 10 are shelf fungi and 52 types of moss – a high degree of diversity for such a small area.

The ethnic and cultural setting of this area, with its numerous unique features of mixed ethnicity, traditional village hospitality and various valuable examples of vernacular architecture, are also part of what makes the Sopotnica valley so important.

Mediaeval monuments in Kosovo

The mediaeval Serbian sites in Kosovo and Metohija which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list are Dečani monastery, the monastery of the Patriarchate of Peć, the church of Our Lady of Ljeviš in Prizren and Gracanica monastery. They represent the peak of Byzantine Roman religious culture, with a unique style of fresco-painting which arose in the Balkans between the 13^th and 17^th centuries.

 

These mediaeval Serbian monuments are in the autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija, which is currently under the administration of the UN Interim Administration Mission (UNMIK). Since 2006 they have been entered in the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, due to the unstable security situation prevailing in the province. After the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, and the arrival of the international KFOR peacekeeping forces in Kosovo and Metohija, Albanian extremists have either destroyed or severely damaged more than 100 Orthodox churches and monasteries. Some Serbian Orthodox monasteries survive only thanks to the courage and dedication of their monks and the military protection of international peace-keeping forces. The monasteries can only be visited under the military escort of KFOR troops.

Patriarchate of Peć is known for drawing of the Nemanjić dynasty family tree, immediately by the entrance.Also, the oldest frescoes are found in the area beneath the dome of the Church of the Holy Apostles (13^th century).  

The church of Our Lady of Ljeviš is known for two layers of frescoes. The first layer is from the early 13th century and is consisting of three frescoes (Wedding at Cana, Healing of the Blind Man and the Mother of God with Christ the Provider). The second layer of frescoes came about between 1307 and 1313, created by a group of talented artists headed by someone called Astrap.

Decani monastery paintings were often regarded as of lesser artistic value to frescoes in some other Serbian Monasteries in Raska and Kosovo regions. It is known for many holy and miraculous relics of the saints. The most important relics are of St. King Stefan of Decani, whose body has been preserved. 

Gracanica monastery is well known for it's frescos (wallpaintings) and Byzantine construction style. There you can find a wall featuring the fresco of the Day of Judgement, with terrifying examples of sinners (recognised as Turks) going to Hell ; elsewhere you can see portraits of the church architect and his queen. The frescoes rank among the highest achievements of Milutin's Nemanjic rule, though some parts are darkened.