III DAY                 Breakfast. Half day city tour with sightseeing: Sinagogue – the second largest in Europe, Jewish street, National Theatre, pedestrian areas- Zmaj Jovina street and Dunavska street with stilish citizen palaces from XVIII and XIX c, Main Sq of Liberty with City Hall and Roman-chatolic church The Name of Maria (offten called Chatedral), Chatolic Porta with Vatican Palace, „Lebarski sokak“ (Bread street), St. Nicholas Church where was baptized children of grate Albert Einstein, Ortodox Chatedral church of St. George (Saborna church), Danube Park,... Lunch in traditional resuaurant „Lipa“ (the oldest in the city). Going to Petrovaradin Fortress and sightseeing: Lower Town (Suburbium) with Bishop Palace and St. Juraj chatolic monastery, Upper Fortress („Gybraltar on Danube“) with military barracks which our now transformed into hotel, museum and restaurants. Sightseeing: Ludvig’s Bastion (Plateau) with Clock Tower, Empres Maria Theresa Plateau with artistic studios... Visit to underground military galleries – catacombs. Going to near litle town Sremski Karlovci. On the way to Karlovci, panoramic overview of Snowy Lady Church (pilgrimage place). Visit to museum-town Sremski Karlovci and sightseeing: Patriarch Palace, Ortodox chatedral church St. Nicholas with beautiful baroque iconastasys, Serbian Gimnasia school, Four Lions Fountain,... Visit to Vine Cellar with degustation of famous Karlovci vines. Return to Novi Sad. Dinner & Overnight. 40 km

IV DAY                 Breakfast. Checkout from the hotel. Departure to Sombor, city on the North of Vojvodina. Travel through romantic panonian land landscapes... Arrival in Sombor at noon hours. Sightseeing: Zupanija Palace (Municipality court) with biggest paint in Serbia („Senta Battle“), pedestrian area with ortodox church of St. George, Main Sq of Holly Trinity with City Hall... Driving with horse carriages arround city centre ring called „Venac“ – enjojing in beautiful green trees (the most greenest town in Serbia). Lunch in traditional vojvodina’a farm house called „salasch“. Enjojing in authentic ambient. After the lunch depart to Subotica town, one of the most beautiful cities in country. Hotel accommodation in Subotica or Palic Lake resort. Dinner & Overnight. 150 km

VI DAY                 Breakfast. Checkout from the hotel. Going to Fantast Castle (near Becej town) and sightseeing of fairry-tale castle: Mali Kastel, White Tower, St. George Chappel, Horse stable... Continue of travel to Ecka Castle. Lunch in beautiful restaurant (ball room). Sightseeing of beautiful palace garden. Departure to Belgrade. Arrival at late afternoon hours. Hotel accommodation. At 20.00h going to Sava Port and cruise with dinner and music program over Sava and Danube rivers. Return to the hotel. Overnight. 200 km

 

III DAY                 Breakfast. Short walking through Spa centre with sightseeing: Fons Romanus (Roman Spring), Spa Park with mineral water springs, The Bridge of lovers. Free time. Lunch in the hotel. Afternoon excursion to the monastery Zica. Sightseeing of crown church of famous serbian medieval dinasty Nemanjic (XIII century). Back to the hotel. Dinner & Overnight. 50 km

IV DAY                 Breakfast. Checkout from the hotel. Departure to town Krusevac. Sightseeing: Lazar’s Fortress – remain of medieval town of Prince Lazar – from this town the serbian warriors start their route to Kosovo Battle (1389). Visit and sight Lazarica Church (XIV c). Going to city centre and overview the magnificent monument of Kosovo Heroe’s. Departure to Kopaonik. Lunch in restaurant on the way to mountain resort. Arrival in Kopaonik tourst centre at afternoon hours. Hotel accommodation. Free time for individual activities or going on the highest peak of Kopaonik mountain – Pancic’s Peak (2017 m). Dinner at 20.00h in the hotel. Overnight. 115 km

VI DAY                 Breakfast. Checkout from the hotel. Across Josanica Spa going to Studenica Monastery. Sightseeing the most beautiful and important serbian monastery (XII c) – „The Mother of all churches“: Holly Mother Church (main church in the complex – XII c), Frescoes from XII, XIII and XIV c, holly graves of members of Nemanjic dinasty, Pirg (medieval tower), Bell Tower, King’s Church (XIII c), St. Nicholac Church (XII c), Treasury, St. Sava dining room. Lunch in the restaurant of hotel „Studenica“. Continue of travel across pictoresque river Ibar’s Valley – called „The Lilac Valley“. Panoramic overview on medieval town Maglic. Across Kraljevo and Ljig travel to Belgrade. Arrival at late afternoon hours. Hotel accommodation. Dinner & Overnight. 250 km

 

TIRANA – Tourists usually find Tirana a beautiful and charming city, whith a lively night life. There are many excellent, inexpensive restaurants in Tirana serving all kinds of food. Tirana also features many historical buildings, and a strange sensation of the meeting between Europe and Orient...

BERAT – Much of the city is built on terraces in the steep hills overlooking the Osum River. Its innumerable monuments and beautiful and characteristic architecture of its houses have proclaimed Berat a museum town.

KRUJA – The historic town of Kruja is located 32 km northwest of Tirana. It rises 560 m above sea level, on the slopes of Sari-Salltiku mountain. It provides to the visitors the great view of majestic landscape and a rich collection of historical and cultural objects...

GJIROKASTRA – this town was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2005. The type of architecture found there is particular to that area – because of hundreds Ottoman style tower houses with distinctive stone roofs, wooden balconies and white washed stone walls. Gjirokastra is known by many as the „Stone City“...

SARANDA – Located on the shores of Ionian sea, in front of Greek island of Corfu, it is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and warm sea waters. Due to its location and warm weather it is one of the most attractive tourist town in Albanian Riviera, also known as „The city of Honeymooners“...

BUTRINT – This town is an ancient Greek city and an archeological site close to Saranda city. It’s belived that Butrint was founded by Greeks from Corfu in the 7th century BC. Remains of Butrint were included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1992.

 

ü Angjinare te mbushura – Stuffed Artichokes with ground meat

ü Koloface- Albanian Sausage

ü Moussaka - Grounded Beef with Potatoes in Custard Sauce

ü Tave peshku me Ikra - Baked Carp Fish with Roe

ü Raki Skrapari – national fruit alchocolic strong drink.

ü Skenderbeg Brandy – extraordinary and high quality brandy

ü Dance Songs with folkloric groups. You must see and hear The Dance of the Swords, Tropoja Dance, Shkupi Dance...

 

Traditional Albanian folk dance is very important in albanian culture, it features themes of honor, loyality, bravery and love. Albania has a rich folklore and every region has a characteristic dance. Every five years there is a National Folk Festival in Gjirokastra where dancers and musicians come together.

Albania’s small treasure & geological phenomen. Visit of the magical place of „Blue Eye“ spring, only 18 km northeast of Saranda. At this beautiful spot, shaded by centuries old oak trees, a twlve headed dragon, according to the legend, jeausly guarded and held back the spring waters from the villagers. Consequently, pagan rituals were carried out by sacrificing young voluptuous maidens to the gods of the same waters.

Almost all over Albania, particularly in Tirana and in the traditional bazaar of Kruja, tourists can buy carpets, figurines, silver and copper articles, woodcarvings, ceramics and an assortiment of needlework. Very typical articles are the pipes, musical instruments such as cifteli and sharki, and embroidery and tablecloths with traditional motifs.

There is a huge artificial Komani lake in northern part of Albania. The ferry trip along this lake is an outstanding experience. The emerald green lake is narrow and twisting, and it stretches along the bed of river Drini that turned into a lake after the construction of the dam in the 80-ies. The vertical cliffs on both sides create a spectacular landscape that might make many think about the Norwegian fjords.

 

SKOPLJE – in its 2.500 years of existance, Macedonia’s welcoming capital city has had many different incarnations. All of them – from Roman to Byzantine, from Ottoman to Yugoslav – have left indelible traces on the city, as is evidenced by Skoplje’s varied architecture and its mix of cultures.

OHRID – Immortal Ohrid – a kingdom of light and water, a repository of ancient ruins from Macedonia’s earlier kingdoms – is the sublime lakeside town form many represents the culmination of the Macedonian experience. The uniqueness of Ohrid’s lake and historical architecture has been attested by UNESCO, which honored the town with an official designation as one of the few places on the cultural institution’s „World Inheritance“ list.

BITOLA – Macedonia’s second city, Bitola is a grand old town that still bears the marks of its turn-of-the-century importance as a center for diplomacy – while also exemplifying the country’s time-honored cafe culture. The many cafes lining the city’s pedestrian main street (The Sirok Sokak) provide endless see-and-be-seen opportunities for Bitola’s fashionable youth.

KRUSEVO – is a living museum, famous for its traditional architecture, cultural sites, and legacy as the site of the great 1903 Ilinden uprising against Ottoman domination. Krusevo is also one of Macedonia’s prime winter sports destinations.

MAVROVO – the ski resort on Bistra Mountain is a real paradise for skiers where the snow and the woodsare the part of wild nature. Rich in natural resources, traced mountain recreational paths, traced mountain-bike paths, Mavrovo and its National Park is the most organized ski center in country.

 

ü Tavche na Gravche – national speciality which made from butter beans stewed in an earthenware pot

ü Macedonian Ajvar - is relish made principally from red bell peppers, with eggplant, garlic and chili pepper.

ü Ohrid Trout - The Ohrid trout is a specialty in Macedonian gastronomy; it is used for soups and other dishes. It tastes like a brown trout crossed with an Atlantic salmon.

ü Mastika – originally a liquor seasoned with the resin of the mastic tree.

ü Vines – red wine „T’ga za jug“ and white wine „Kavadarka“

ü Beautiful love songs with extraordinary orient melodies and gentle lirics. The most popular Macedonian songs came from the region of Ohrid Lake.

 

The largest artificial lake in Macedonia is part of Mavrovo National Park. Due to its elevation (over 1000 meters, or 3000 feet), this mountain lake sometimes freezes over in winter. Abundant with the famous trout, Lake Mavrovo also makes for an excellent swimming and boating spot in the summer months. An additional point of interest is the half-submerged church in the middle of the lake...

The Matka canyon is located in the lower course of river Treska. Whith its geological, geomorphologic and hydrological characteristics, and the flora and fauna, it is an exceptional object of nature. The most fascinating is the exclusively great number of various kinds of butterfly species, 84 of which can be found there and nowhere else on the Balkans...

Located in the heart of Macedonia’s wine country, the farming town of Kavadarci is famous for its high-quality grapes and Tikves wines, popular both at home and on the wider world market. Every year at the beginning of September a wine carnival is held in Kavadarci. The carnival parade culminates with an event called „Tikveski grozdober“, which is a must-see event if you want to taste the great Macedonian wines and party all day long...

Like Serbia (Macedonia was been for a century part of medieval serbian state), Macedonia is also famous as country whith grate heritage from Byzanth times. Old monasteries and churches are built from 9th to 16th century from North part to Southern part of today’s state. Ohrid was a seat of Ortodox Archibishop and theirs churches is quitley unique and most beautiful. Markov Monastery, Matka monastery, Nagorichano Monastery... is only a small part of great cultural heritage.

 

PODGORICA – a capital located at the crossroads of important European, historical and ciltural routes, with its people very open and warm-hearted. Podgorica is a mixture of old and new, traditional and modern. Authentically architecture will transport you back to old times and customs...

BUDVA – Legend says that Budva was founded by Cadmo, son of the Phoenician King Agenon, after he was expelled from Thebes. This town is consired one of the oldest on the Adriatic. The open-air stage under the open sky is located inside the walls, which offer the visitors numerous spectacles in terms of: promotion of literary works, concerts and exibitions. Budva is today a town of theatre, festivals, holidays, beautiful hotels and beaches... Many people call it the tourist capital of Montenegro becouse of many things on offer, the wonderful Riviera and exclusive hotels nad restaurants...

KOTOR – Kotor is just one of the beatuful coastal towns surrounded by the big monuntains that hang over the Mediterranean richness and the Boka Kotorska Bay, the southernmost fjord in Europe, which has been celebrated in song so many times and whose coasts bear witness to the tempestuous history and centuries-old civilization and multicultural interweaving. Old town Kotor is under the protection of UNESCO.

THE DURMITOR NATIONAL PARK – created in 1952, includes the massif of Durmitor, the canyons of Tara, Susica and Draga rivers and the higher part of the canyon plateau Komarnica, covering the area of 390 km². It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1980. A part of the river Tara Canyon is the second largest in the World, just behind Grand canyon in Arizona...

CETINJE – The city nestles on a small Karst plain surrounded by limestone mountains, including Mt. Lovcen, the Black Mountain from which country gets its name. Cetinje is also famous for its museums and historic building from the time when Cetinje beeing a capital city of Montenegro. You must visit Cetinje Monastery, King’s palace, Biljarda residence and State Museum.

ü Lamb meat under sac – cooked on open fire under the pot of clay

ü Pivski kajmak – a pecial milk cream from Piva region

ü Clear Fish soup and boiled fish, fried carp and smoked bleak, famous Njegushi proscuito

ü Vranac –extra quality red vine

ü Chardonnay – very quality white vine

ü Water – crystal clear water from the springs on Durmitor or Bjelasica Mountain

ü Kefir – yoghurt drink from sheep milk

ü Beautiful epic songs which interpretate with traditional fiddle. Lirics of the songs talk about Montenegro’s history and heroes.

 

Narraow passes and rapids, abysses and steep banks are this canyon’s characteristics and make it irresistible for everybody seeking adventures. Rafting and floating on the Tara belong to those attractions that turn high spirits into top fun. The canyon is 82 km long and its bottom is in a depth of 1.300 m in some places.

Numerous monasteries, churches and fortifications from the distant past remained as traces of the past. Owing to, first of all, the preservation of the ecosystem and inaccessibility to some parts of the Lake, especially along its north swamp coast, Skadar Lake is a „birds paradise“ for almost 280 bird species, out of which the greatest number is rare Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) has become the symbol of the Lake and Skadar Lake National Park. Lake Skadar was registered on the World List of Wetlands of International Significance in 1995.

The bride of Adriatic Sea. Beautiful lagoon with old towns and nice beaches. Here you can taste good vines, excellent sea food, medieval charm. On the half day, or full day cruise you can feel all beauty of this part of Montenegro Adriatic coast. You can easly reach from Boka old city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, and old throne city Cetinje. Ofcourse, you must sea Lovcen Mountain – on the top of Lovcen are Mausoleum of Petar Petrovic Njegos, Montenegro’s ruller and one of the most important writer and poet from this part of Balkan.

On the way to Niksic, near city Danilovgrad is situated one of the most beautiful monasteries in Montenegro. Mostary are half-sunken in the rock – and this is a breaththaking view! In the church are holly rest of St. Vasilije. Several thousands pilgrimage during the year come to visit this holly place!

 

 

 

 

The Balkans (often referred to as the Balkan Peninsula although the two are not coterminous) is a geographic region of southeastern Europe. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains, which run through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia. The region has a combined area of 550,000 km2 (212,000 sq mi) and a population of about 55 million people.

"Balkan" comes from a Turkish word meaning "a chain of wooded mountains". The ancient Greek name for the Balkan Peninsula was the "Peninsula of Haemus”. The Balkans are also referred to as Southeastern Europe. The Balkan Peninsula may be defined as an area of southeastern Europe surrounded by water on three sides: the Adriatic Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea (including the Ionian and Aegean seas) to the south and the Black Sea to the east. Its northern boundary is often given as the Danube, Sava and Kupa rivers.

Countries which are geographically fully located within the Balkan peninsula: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia and Montenegro. Countries which are significantly located in the peninsula: Croatia and Serbia (central part with Kosovo are on the Balkan; Vojvodina Province is on Panonian land-Central Europe). Countries which are located mostly outside the peninsula: Turkey, Slovenia and Romania.

History - The identity of the Balkans is dominated by its geographical position; historically the area was known as a crossroads of various cultures. It has been a juncture between the Latin and Greek bodies of the Roman Empire, the destination of a massive influx of pagan Slavs, an area where Orthodox and Catholic Christianity met, as well as the meeting point between Islam and Christianity. In pre-classical and classical antiquity, this region was home to Greeks, Illyrians, Paeonians, Thracians, Dacians and other ancient groups. Later the Roman Empire conquered most of the region and spread Roman culture and the Latin language but significant parts still remained under classical Greek influence. During the Middle Ages, the Balkans became the stage for a series of wars between the Byzantine, Bulgarian and Serbian Empires. Possibly the historical event that left the biggest mark on the collective memories of the peoples of the Balkans was the expansion and later fall of the Ottoman Empire. By the end of the 16th century, it had become the controlling force in the region, although it was centered around Anatolia. Many people in the Balkans and Carpathians place their greatest folk heroes in the era of either the onslaught or the retreat of the Ottoman Empire. Ottomans rulles over the most Balkan countries till the second half of 19th century. After this period the Austrohungarian Empire come in some Balkan countries, and the rest of country came independent, During the 20th century most important country on Balkan was been Yugoslavia. During the 1990s Yugoslavia was destroyed and new states has formed (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia).

Today, Balkan is one of the most interesting part of Europe. Grate cultural and historical heritage, ethno motives, food, vines, traditions… This is Balkan in short brief! This region is still undiscovered, although turisaticki has exceptional natural and cultural-historical themes worth attention!

 

Map of Balkans

 

 

 

 

 

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