"Sarajevo".
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The city is considered one of the most important cities in the Balkans and has had a long and rich history ever since it was founded by the Ottomans in 1461.
It was the backdrop of many historic events, like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which sparked World War I; and more recently Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and was besieged during the Yugoslav civil wars in the 1990s.
Sarajevo is part of Canton Sarajevo, one of the ten Cantons in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river Miljacka runs through the city.
The city is surrounded by five major mountains. They are part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range that winds through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. The mountains are popular tourist attractions for hiking and skiing. In alphabetical order they are:
Sarajevo itself is part of Bosnia proper, known for its mountainous and heavily forested landscape. Natural disasters pose little threat in the region, although small earthquakes have been known to occur.
Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the North and the Mediterranean to the South. Sarajevo experiences warm summers, with temperatures of 35 °C (95°F) not being uncommon, and cold winters, when snow is guaranteed due to the city's high altitude. Sarajevo has three major weather stations. They are located on Bjelašnica mountain, Butmir, and in the city itself.
The warmest month of the year is July, when the average temperature is about 19 °C (66 °F), although August's average temperature is only a degree lower. The coldest month of the year is January when the average temperature is -1 °C (30 °F). The average year-round temperature is 10 °C (45 °F).
Sarajevo receives about 905 mm (36 inches) of precipitation a year. The rainiest month is October when the city receives 89.4 mm (3.5 in) of rainfall. The driest is February when the city gets only 61.4 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. Average atmospheric pressure at the city's elevation is 942.3 millibars, and this varies little throughout the year.
The area of present day Sarajevo has a long and rich history dating back to the Neolithic, when the Butmir Culture flourished in the area. However, little material evidence of this is available, mostly due to later construction. Several Illyrian settlements existed in the area before it was conquered by Rome in 9 CE. During Roman times, a town named Aquae Sulphurae existed on the location of present day Ilidža, a Sarajevo suburb to the southwest of the city.
The year usually mentioned as the city's founding is 1461, when the first Ottoman governor of Bosnia, Isa-beg Ishaković, transformed this village cluster into a city and a state capital by building a number of key objects, including a mosque, a closed marketplace, a public bath, a hostel and the Governor's palace (Saray) which gave the city its present name (see also: Etymology of Sarajevo). Sarajevo flourished in the 16th century when its greatest donor and builder Gazi Husrev-beg built most of what is now the old city.
In a raid led by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697 against the Ottoman Empire, Sarajevo was burned down and leveled. The city was later rebuilt, but never fully recovered from the destruction. The capital of Bosnia was transferred to Travnik. In 1878, Bosnia was occupied by Austria-Hungary, and Sarajevo was quickly brought up to the standards of the industrial age.
In the event that triggered World War I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg were assassinated in Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914. Following the war, Sarajevo was the capital of the Drina Banovina, a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. After World War II, Sarajevo grew rapidly as it became an important regional industrial center in Yugoslavia. Modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevo's architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occurred in the early 1980s, when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics.
On April 6, 1992, Sarajevo was surrounded by the Yugoslav National Army (Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija)and a number of paramilitary -Bosnian Serb Army- formations. The warfare that lasted until October 1995 resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts (see Siege of Sarajevo for details). Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended, in 1995. By 2003, most of the city had been rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city centre. Modern office buildings and skyscrapers have since been constructed throughout the city.
Additionally, there are about 200 ministers, 80 political parties and 14 parliaments in Bosnia, one of the most convoluted political systems in the world.
The current mayor of Sarajevo is Mrs. Semiha Borovac, from the SDA of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
To help the mayor carry out the executive duties of the city, the executive branch also consists of several city services, or "organizations". They are the "City Service for General Management" (Gradska služba za opću upravu), "City Service for the Finances" (Gradska služba finansija), "City Service for Local Employment" (Gradska služba za lokalno poslovanje), "City Service for Urban Planning" (Gradska služba za urbano planiranje), and the "City Service for Communal Works" (Gradska služba za komunalne poslove).
Councilmen are elected by municipality according to population, with Novi Grad municipality receiving the most seats in the city council and Stari Grad municipality the least. The council is headed by the council speaker, two deputies, and a secretary, and consists of 24 members.
Currently, of these 28, 15 belong to the SDP, 7 to Za BiH, 5 to SDA, and 1 to the HDZ. The president of the City Council is Mira Jadrić-Winterhalter, and deputies are Emin Svrakić and Vladimir Zubić.
According to the official government statistics, Sarajevo's population density is 2470.1 per square kilometer. The most densely populated part of Sarajevo is in the municipality Novo Sarajevo (7524.5 inhabitants per square kilometer), while the least densely populated is the Stari Grad municipality (742.5 inhabitants per square kilometer).
The largest ethnic group in Sarajevo are the Bosniaks; with more than 465,000 people, this group makes up about 80 percent of the city. The second-largest group are the Serbs, of which there are some 72,000 (10 percent of the city). Croats are the third largest group, with a population of 45,000 (7.5 percent of the total). 18,600 people (2.5 percent of overall population) are classified as others. They most likely consist of Sephardi Jews, and Roma, along with a small number of foreign workers (mostly of Chinese and African backgrounds).
Sarajevo is economically one of the strongest regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Like many other major cities, its economy is largely based on industries such as manufacturing and tourism. As the center of various levels of area politics, many Sarajevo citizens also work in government. A number of local and international companies are present in the city and contribute to its economic health.
Sarajevo's manufacturing deals with a wide array of products. This includes production of foods and beverages, textiles, furniture, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and metalworking. Sarajevo companies also produce unique brands of alcohol, and cigarettes.
Sarajevo has witnessed nothing short of an economic miracle in the past decade. Following the siege of the city, the economic output in 1995 was insignificant, whereas the export value in 2002 was in excess of 259,569,000 KM, a 21.9% increase from 2001. (see also: Constructions and reconstructions in Sarajevo after war)
A variety of important economic institutions are to be found in Sarajevo. The central bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina is found in the city, as are numerous other independent banks. Overall 19 different banks have their headquarters in Sarajevo. The city also holds the Sarajevo Exchange of securities, the Institute for accounting and auditing of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Board for securities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Register of valuable papers of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Some major companies based in Sarajevo include B&H Airlines (Formerly Air Bosna), BH Telecom, Bosmal City Center, Bosnalijek, UPI Bank, Dnevni Avaz, Energoinvest, Energopetrol, Oslobodenje, Fabrika Duhana Sarajevo (Sarajevo Tobacco Factory), Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery), and Unioninvest. Foreign companies with a foothold in the Sarajevo region include Harris Communications, Raiffeisen, Brown & Root, Unitic, Volkswagen, and most notably, Coca Cola.
Main article: Communications and Media of Sarajevo
As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is naturally the main center of the country's media. Most of the country's major television channels are based in the city, as are the most popular newspapers and magazines.
Newspapers are the most popular and most well established forms of media. The two most popular and credible daily newspapers are the Oslobodenje and the Dnevni Avaz, The buildings of both of these are adjacent to each other, situated in Novi Grad municipality.
Television is very popular in Sarajevo, even though for most people the number of channels is somewhat limited. Satellites allow for a number of foreign channels to be watched, but the most popular are the local news stations based in the city. FTV is the television of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, while there is also a national radio-television system named Public Broadcast Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Sarajevo Cantonal channel is also available.
Many small independent radio stations exist, although the majority listen to the more established ones such as Radio M, Radio Grad, eFM Student Radio and RSG. RSG, Radio Stari Grad (Radio Old Town) is the most popular of these. Radio Free Europe can still be heard, and several American and West European stations are available for listening as well. Also popular is Radio 202, affiliated with FTV.
The most important division of the City of Sarajevo are its four Municipalities. Municipalities are the fourth level of political authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina after state, entity, and canton. The Bosnian word for them is "Općina". They are, Centar (Center), Novi Grad (New City), Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad (Old Town).
Like the city at large, all of the Municipalities have their own regional government, including a foreman, councils, and various Municipality services. The role of these Municipality governments is not as significant as that of other Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the existence of the Sarajevo city government.
Sarajevo's Municipalities are further split into "local communities" (Bosnian, Mjesne zajednice). Local communities have a small role in city government and are intended as a way for ordinary citizens to get involved in city government. They are based around key city neighborhoods.
Sarajevo also has several suburbs. They are essentially the 5 Municipalities of Canton Sarajevo that are not included in Sarajevo's official city limits. They are, in alphabetical order, Hadžići, Ilidža, Ilijaš, Trnovo, and Vogošća. Of these the cities of Ilidža and Vogošća, found in the Municipalities of the same name, can be considered the most important.
Ilidža is the chief suburb of Sarajevo, located just west of Novi Grad Municipality. According to the latest estimates, Ilidža's population is slightly under 50,000. Sarajevo International Airport is found next to the city. The secondary suburb, Vogošća is located about 6 kilometers north of the city center and has a population of around 9,000. Vogošća has traditionally been an important industrial center.
If one were to describe the stereotypes of Sarayliyas in one word, it would be cosmopolitan. Sarayliyas are known for being modern cultured city dwellers. Bosnians from outside Sarajevo are thought to have the sense that Sarajevo receives too much attention, but this is more of a sibling rivalry than an actual dislike for Sarajevo and its people. Within the city itself, the people of the various Municipalities have somewhat taken up the stereotypes of the regions they live in. Sarajevo is also known for having a very communal feel, despite its large population.
Sarajevo has had a number of famous citizens over the years (see also: Famous Sarayliyas). They include an Academy Award winner, one Golden bear (Berlinale) winner, two Nobel Prize winners, legendary musicians, novelists, and politicians. Sarajevo has also produced presidents for three countries.
Ever since the 1984 Winter Olympics, Sarajevo has been a popular tourist attraction (save for the war years in the early 1990s). Indeed, even long before that Sarajevo was a popular stop for travelers in the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian empires, and is mentioned in traveling books from all sides of Europe and the Middle East. One of the first structures built in the city was an inn.
In 2006, Lonely Planet named Sarajevo the 43rd Best City in the World, in its Best Cities Book. With its #43 spot Sarajevo has come ahead of Dubrovnik, #59, Ljubljana at #84, Bled at #90, Zagreb at #125 and Belgrade at #143, making Sarajevo the best ranking city on the Balkan penninsula.*
Sarajevo overall has some 50 major hotels, along with numerous smaller motels and hospitality businesses. A variety of travel agencies in the city can help organize a visit. The most famous hotel in Sarajevo is the Holiday Inn, whose distinctive color and location has made it something of a city icon.
Various types of tourism are popular in Sarajevo. War tourism focuses on the war years, and the famous spots of the siege of Sarajevo. Some are interested specifically in the historical aspects of the city, while thousands come for the area's nature.
Summer is the busiest season for Sarajevo tourism, as thousands of tourists visit from foreign countries. Many of these are from the neighboring Balkan states, while a very large number are former residents who fled the city during the war.
Sarajevo is full of interesting and notable structures that tourists find attractive. Some notable examples include the mountains Igman and Bjelašnica, Vrelo Bosne park, the Sarajevo cathedral, and the Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque among others (See also: Sites of interest in Sarajevo).
Geographic and historical factors have combined to make Sarajevo a very compact city for its population. Due to this and a lack of parking structures, it is very difficult to find places for parking. This is especially true in the summer due to the presence of tourists. Sarajevo makes up for this with its traditional old world city planning, which allows for pedestrians to easily walk to wherever they need to go. Bicycling is also practiced, but is not very common.
Public transportation is very common and has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The chief methods of this are tramways, trolleybuses, and buses. The first full-time operational electric tram line (from dawn to dusk) was, in fact, first introduced to Europe in Sarajevo in 1885 by Austro-Hungarian officials. * The Sarajevo tramway is 16 kilometers long.
Sarajevo has 7 tramway lines, 4 trolleybus lines, and 79 bus routes (including suburbs). Most of these run east-west, on the northern bank of the Miljacka. During the last years of Yugoslavia, a subway was planned, but was never built.
The railroad has always been very important in Sarajevo. The main Sarajevo railroad station is located in the north central part of the city. From there, the tracks head west before branching off in different directions. The railroad for years was crucial to the industry of the part of town it ran through. This has left a lasting impression on the region, ranging from stereotypes to soccer teams. Historically, Sarajevo was a very important center of the railroad industry in Southeastern Europe, although it has been greatly hurt by the war. Sarajevo International Airport (intl. code SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war the airport was used for United Nations flights and humanitarian relief. Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has welcomed a thriving commercial flight business which includes B&H Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Aero Flight, Lufthansa, Jat Airways, Croatia Airlines, and others. In 2004, 397,000 passengers had traveled through Sarajevo airport, whereas only 25,000 had just 8 years earlier in 1996. *
The two main streets within Sarajevo are "Titova" (Tito's) street and "Zmaj od Bosne" (Dragon of Bosnia) street. Most traffic out of the city is to the west, as that is where the important cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina are located. The Republika Sprska is directly to the east, and most people have little desire to go there.
Currently, the initial stages of Corridor 5C are underway for construction through Sarajevo, connecting the city to Budapest in the north, and Ploce in the south. The estimated cost for the construction of the highway is 2.5 billion EUR, which will bring the nation 330km of the most modern highway in Europe. Work on the highway began in Spring 2006 in Sarajevo, with a section already completed. *
Sarajevo is also home to a number of cultural institutions, dedicated to maintaining the city's culture. The notable Bosniak institute is housed in an impressive building in central Sarajevo, and features various interesting exhibits dealing with the city's and country's culture and history. Also notable are the International Center for Kids and Youth in New Sarajevo Municipality, and the Center for Sarajevo Culture.
Theatres are also an important part of Sarajevo culture. The first great Sarajevo theatre was the national theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 1919 and surviving to this day. Prior to that, plays were often held in parks or at the large houses of wealthy families. The first Bosnian opera was held in Sarajevo in 2003. Sarajevo also houses the Sarajevo Youth Theatre.
The most famous in all of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is located in central Sarajevo. It was established in 1888, from an idea dating back to the first half of the 19th century. The Sarajevo Haggadah is held there. While in Sarajevo one can also visit, among many others, the:
There existed also an impressive Olympic museum dedicated to the 84' games but it was destroyed in the warfare.
In the past, Sarajevo held several famous libraries. Notably the Gazi Husrev-beg library, and the national library. Unfortunately Serbian ultranationalists purposely fired upon the national library with incendiary shells and it was destroyed. An effort is underway to rebuild the library and replace what was lost. An impressive new modern "Gazi Husrev-Beg's" library is also being built.
The Sarajevo Film Festival, which has been going on since 1995, has become the premier film festival in the Balkans. Largely due to its size and the success and popularity of cinema in Bosnia, the event has gained considerable importance and often attracts foreign celebrities. The Sarajevo Winter Festival and Sarajevo Jazz Festival are also well-known, as are the Baščaršija Nights, a month-long showcase of local culture, music, and dance.
The pop and rock musicians from Sarajevo made a major mark on the popular music of the whole of former Yugoslavia, and form the so-called Sarajevo school of pop rock.
Another popular sport is basketball. The basketball club KK Bosna Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club Bosna Sarajevo has been a championship team since the 1980s. Sarajevo often holds international events and competitions in various other sports, such as tennis and kickboxing.
Rock climbing is a very popular sport in Sarajevo. Not far from the city center is climbing center Dariva managed by extreme climbing club Red Point Sarajevo was scheduled to host the Special Olympic winter games in 2009, but for unknown reasons gave up the right. Instead Boise was given the games.
The first high school in Sarajevo was established in 1887. Starting in the 1940s, numerous modern faculties were added to the University of Sarajevo for a wide variety of professions ranging from economics to forestry. Sarajevo today also has 46 elementary schools (Grades 1-9), and 19 high schools (Grades 10-13). The University of Sarajevo includes faculties for medicine, law, agriculture, technical services, philosophy, and economics.
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