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166-423: Slavija is located less than 1.5 km (0.93 mi) south of Terazije (downtown Belgrade), at an altitude of 117 m (384 ft). The square itself belongs entirely to the municipality of Vračar , though the municipality of Savski Venac begins immediately to the west. The Slavija neighborhood which surrounds the square borders the neighborhoods of Cvetni Trg in the north, Grantovac and Krunski Venac in

332-417: A Modernist building was constructed in the mid-1930s. It was designed by Đorđe Đorđević in pure style, with the typical geometry of Modernism represented by the step-like risalit . Modern Hotel Balkan was built in 1935, Igumanov's Palace  [ sr ] in 1938, while Palace Albania was finished in 1939. In order to "effectively intimidate the population" and discourage the people from fighting

498-404: A "Chinese rattle" and a "nonsense". Bakić called it an "eyesore" and " watering trough ". Politicians, on the other hand, praised the project. Vesić dismissed all criticism calling it "political" and that after only three days, the fountain became the "symbol of Belgrade". Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović , stated that to her, Slavija is more beautiful with

664-503: A "kitsch-parade", waste of money and " Potemkin village in the center of Belgrade". Architectural theorist and member of the Serbian Academy of Architecture Slobodan "Giša" Bogunović described it as the "rosemary on the lapel of the ragged suit", "illiterate pleasing to the taste of politicians and ignorant councilors" and "water well that swallowed lot of money". Author and critic Milan Vlajčić called it an "insult for Belgrade",

830-482: A Square of Marx and Engels (present Square of Nikola Pašić) in the 1950s to the north. Terazije became a "lifeless" ground for the parade and, in the future, for the automobile traffic. An 8-storey building, later known as the Hempro Building, was constructed by Aleksej Brkić at No. 8 in 1951 and finished in 1956. The black and white façade covering is made of marble, glass and metal, with geometric shapes. It

996-685: A field day with the comments and photomontages. They especially made fun of mayor Siniša Mali's comment on a previous incident with the Slavija fountain ("it isn't cracked, it overspills") and his and president Alexander Vučić's pet project Belgrade Waterfront (in Serbian, Beograd na vodi , "Belgrade on the water"). The three most problematic spots were open for traffic simultaneously on 16 November 2017 (Slavija, adjoining Bulevar Oslobođenja , Ruzveltova ) even though none of them were fully completed. Citizens noted that not much appears to be changed after such

1162-429: A ghost town. Then a group of young designers moved into the empty shops and began selling their homemade crafts, forming a Belgrade Design District with over 100 shops. In 2018 city administration stepped in with plans of creating a full artistic quart in the future. The deadline is set for 2020. The shopping mall was built without proper permits as the city urban plans envisioned public garage on that location, so there

1328-541: A high-level. The towers were 3 to 10 m (9.8 to 32.8 ft) tall and had a cistern at the summit from which the water flowed into distribution pipes. The Ottoman đeriza followed the route of the ancient aqueduct from the period of Singidunum , the Roman predecessor of Belgrade. The top of the Terazije Ridge is rich in water springs. Water used to run down the slope, where the modern Prizrenska Street is, into

1494-480: A large Terazije fountain was built in 1927. At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, Terazije was the centre of social life of Belgrade. In 1913, Davidović's city administration decided to change the name of the square into the Prestolonaslednikov trg ("Heir's apparent square"), referring to prince Alexander, future king Alexander I of Yugoslavia . Another decision was to build

1660-716: A large number of people got stranded on the bank in Savamala, trying to flee across the Sava into Austria. Men were massacred, while women and children were enslaved. People were impaled on stakes along city's main roads so a rows of impaled people were placed from the Stambol Gate to Terazije, and nearby, along the Tsarigrad Road, from the Batal mosque to Tašmajdan . Terazije started to take shape as an urban feature in

1826-482: A large piece of land above the present square and parcelled it for sale (the area became subsequently known as Englezovac). Soon after that, Mackenzie built a house for himself at Slavija (at the place where the old "Slavija" cinema used to be), which in 1910 was turned into the Socialist People's Center, a gathering place of the worker's movement. The other, smaller buildings at the corner of Kralja Milana and

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1992-406: A location of the monument to Dimitrije Tucović, which was removed from the center of the roundabout. The deadline for the reconstruction was 7 November 2017. However, in the summer of 2017, major traffic congestions developed in the wider downtown area as the city began several large reconstructions of important traffic spots. Due to the delays because of the failed tendering and problems with permits,

2158-432: A long reconstructions, while mayor Mali admitted that on Slavija only the pavement was changed. Soon, the problems appeared, apparently as a result of hasty and low quality work. By January 2018 the granite slabs on the sidewalks and concrete bedding for the tram tracks were cracking, the asphalt concrete with which the streets were paved was denting, while the painted marks and signs were peeling off. The park, promised by

2324-413: A major traffic section. The secretariat warned that the planned dispersion of the water will make the roads wet and slippery in summer and create ice in winter, as it is supposed to work throughout the year, thanks to the special heaters. They concluded that the fountain projected that way is not suitable for the highly frequent roundabout but rather for the parks and open green areas and that it can endanger

2490-514: A neglected, empty passage. New possible reconstruction was announced in April 2017, followed by a series of postponing: for October 2017, January, March and May 2018. The project included new paving of the area and reintroduction of the greenery. Nothing has been done, though, and in May 2019 part of the concrete ceiling collapsed so the city again promised to renovate the passage, sometime in 2019. After

2656-439: A place, and that, in general, new city government removed from the project the best parts and kept the worst. Traffic experts pointed out that the displacement of the pedestrian crossings won't help the traffic and that it will be less safe for the pedestrians themselves. Also, as Belgrade is known for its strong winds, the water from such a high jet streams would constantly wet the pavement of the square. City government replied that

2822-467: A result of the pipe burst, described as a "deluge", the water was ejected 3 m (9.8 ft) in the air and the pond was created in the center of the square, up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) deep. The water then spilled over into the ending section of the Kralja Milana street, further complicating the traffic. Though the problem was fixed later that day, the communities on social networks had

2988-569: A synonym for an architecturally ugly and devastated area and the source of one of the most popular urban legends in Belgrade: the curse of the Mitićeva rupa ("Mitić's hole"). In the 19th century, the "Rudničanin" kafana was located at the modern corner of Beogradska and Kralja Milana streets. In decades before the opening of the Belgrade Main railway station in 1884, the venue was one of

3154-541: A typical inn for the travelers from the interior. At the corner of the Skopljanska (today Nušićeva) Street and Terazije, there was the "Zunane" glass shop. It was later purchased by Tomaš Rosulek who turned it into the delicatessen. One of the former Robne kuće Beograd department stores occupies the lot today. Down from the Rosulek store was a well known "Pantelić" pastry shop, famous for its confectionery . There

3320-490: A week. In September 2018, the commission was formed to choose which songs will be played. It was officially named "The Commission for the realization of the artistic work of the fountain on the Slavija Square". With everything that happened during the construction, and things which followed (malfunctioning, wetting the carriageways, shutting down because of the repairs, several car accidents including cars crashing into

3486-416: A well-known pharmacy, so as the several smaller buildings around it with shops, including the tinsmith Anton Šuster. The Serbian Social Democratic Party purchased the edifice in 1910, turning it into the center of the burgeoning worker's movement. In the early 1930s the venue was transformed into the inn. After World War II, new authorities nationalized everything and turned former Mackenzie's residence into

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3652-535: A while in 1918, and until 1920 the National Theatre held performances here, too. In 1860 the kafana "Kod Albanije" ("Chez Albania"), was opened. A small, crummy house, built in the oriental, Turkish style, with yellow façade, it was very popular. The clock in front of it was the first public clock in Belgrade, so it became the most popular meeting point in the city. It was demolished to make way for

3818-671: Is Belgrade's designated center. When street numbers are assigned to the streets of Belgrade, numeration begins from the part of the street closest to Terazije. Terazije itself is also a short street, connected by the King Milan Street, the main street in Belgrade, to the Slavija square, by the Nikola Pašić Square to the King Alexander Boulevard , the longest street in Belgrade, by Prizrenska street to

3984-471: Is a shopping area in an indoor passage that connects Terazije and the Square of Nikola Pašić. Originally, it was a location of Hotel "Pariz", which was built in 1870 and demolished in 1948 during the reconstruction of Terazije. Passage has been protected by the state as a "cultural property", though still under the "preliminary protection", and was nicknamed by the architects as the "belly button of Belgrade". It

4150-499: Is located in the municipality of Stari Grad . Today, Terazije has primarily function of the main transit square, surrounded by the important public buildings, cultural institutions, hotels, public monuments and parks. Though not classically shaped square, Terazije was historically important as the gathering spot and the former business and commercial center of Belgrade. With the Knez Mihailova Street , which extends to

4316-421: Is part of the wider protected Spatial Cultural-Historical Unit of Stari Grad. Since the 1950s, the covered square was a quiet corner in sole downtown, with mini gardens and coffee shops and a popular destination of many Belgraders, but in the recent decades mainly lost that function. In 1959 a round plateau with the fountain and a bronze sculpture, called "Girl with the seashell", sculptured by Aleksandar Zarin ,

4482-442: Is today divided between the municipalities of Vračar and Savski Venac. Savski Venac's section was within the local community of West Vračar, while Vračar's section was organized as the local community of Slavija with the population of 4,608 in 1981 and 4,281 in 1991. That local community was later annexed to Cvetni Trg (total population of 25,759 in 2002), but municipality of Vračar later abolished local communities altogether. Slavija

4648-581: The Alley of the Greats in Belgrade's New Cemetery . Surviving members of Tucović family weren't present, while their wishes to bury Tucović in his home village of Gostilje and to relocate the bust to the town of Užice were ignored. A smaller version of Tucović bust was placed at his tomb. In March 2017, the city's Transportation Secretariat sent a memo in which warned that the project is not adjusted for such

4814-740: The Belgrade City Hall , while Novi Dvor hosts the Presidency of Serbia . Under the mayor Ljubomir Davidović , the Technical Administration of Belgrade Municipality organized architectural design competition for complete rearrangement of Terazije in March 1911. Stipulations included removal of the fountain. In the summer of 1911, the plan was developed, headed by the special commission constituted specifically for this purpose and headed by architect Édouard Léger. Most of

4980-645: The Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes . On the other side of the square was a Renaissance-style administrative building that hosted the offices of the Terazije Quarter. At the corner, there was the "Todorović" delicatessen , later replaced with the Igumanov's Palace  [ sr ] . One of the oldest kafanas in Belgrade, "Šiškova Kafana", was also on this side of Terazije. Gathering place of

5146-508: The Liberas , the one-storey building had a garden, offered newspapers and was known for political debates. It was later demolished and replaced with cinema "Beograd". Close to it was a string of other kafanas : "Takovo", considered quite a distinguished venue, "Pariz" and "Uroševa Pivnica". The "Pariz" was a gathering place for the People's Radical Party members, while the "Uroševa Pivnica" was

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5312-535: The Palace Albanija , which was finished in 1939. Starting in 1859, Atanasije Nikolić , educator and agriculturist, planted a number of chestnut trees on Terazije, in the process of making Belgrade greener, where Nikolić, as an engineer and an urbanist, was also charged with arranging the Košutnjak and Topčider parks, and avenues along Terazije and Topčider Road , and other streets. He grew seedlings in

5478-493: The Slavija Square in the city centre. The Slavija hotel complex contains three buildings. The tallest one being a 3 star hotel, a second smaller 2 star hotel where groups of children on school excursions usually stay and "Hotel Slavija Lux" – a 5 star all glass hotel. All hotels except the 2 star hotel have both apartments and smaller rooms. Hotel Slavija Lux is popular with famous people staying in Belgrade. In front of

5644-465: The internment camp at Neusiedl am See . The neighborhood was damaged during the World War I, especially during the heavy Austro-Hungarian bombardment in 1914–1915, prior to occupation. Terazije was described as desolate, empty and destroyed by the grenades. The ground cracked, underground canals collapsed, and the surrounding buildings were demolished. Serbian army had no proper ammunition to fight

5810-474: The "Balkan", which adjoined the fountain. It included house and the "Velika Srbija" inn. The "Velika Srbija" was known for good food and wine, and was demolished and replaced by the Hotel Moskva by 30 January 1908. Around it, there were several small shops and grocery stores. Further away was the "Viktorović" pharmacy, with distinction of being demolished in the bombings in both World Wars. Close to it were

5976-498: The "Ratko Mitrović" company, which was already criticized for its handling of the 2014 reconstruction of the Vojvode Stepe Street. The situation, described as the "months of collapse" was further aggravated by the temporary strikes of the workers of "Ratko Mitrović" because their salaries were months late and the company didn't pay their social and health insurance. They organized strikes on 13 July and 11 September. It

6142-563: The "Slavija" cinema, occupying area between the Beogradska and Prote Mateje streets. For decades one of the symbols of Belgrade, the cinema was demolished in 1991, but like the Mitić's hole, none of the projects for construction on this site have been realized, though the official reason for the demolition of the entire quarter, including the former Nikolić's complex, was the construction of the new Beobanka building. Not knowing what to do with

6308-478: The 1920s, were illegally selling goods of the ox carts on and around Terazije. It was one of the reasons for city administration to build a large Zeleni Venac farmers market , on Zeleni Venac, below Terazije. Also despite being the sole center of the city, some areas evaded urbanization until the late 1930s, like the Kuzmanović Yard. This was period of building various highrise buildings ("palaces"). At No. 10,

6474-459: The 2006 reconstruction of the Autokomanda interchange, etc.). The transportation importance of the square can be seen as it branches into the eight streets: Over 70,000 pedestrians and 140,000 vehicles pass through Slavija daily. After the prolonged 2016-2018 reconstruction, the roundabout was further narrowed to make room for the central fountain while nothing to fix any traffic problems

6640-462: The 3.5 m (11 ft) tall sculptural composition is being recreated by the sculptor Zoran Kuzmanović. Some 60% of the original Dolinar's sculpture survived and Kuzmanović used it for reconstruction. Originally placed on the roof in January 1939 and demolished in 1950, the restored sculpture was returned to its place on 22 April 2021. Pedestrian underground passage, with commercial facilities,

6806-655: The Austrian gunboats , so they freely fired at the city from the Sava river. Resident Slavka Mihajlović wrote: "Terazije were completely dug up by the projectiles. Covered in mounds of cobblestone and concrete. Chestnut trees were laying on the ground, uprooted by the shelling. Not a living soul anywhere, like the town has died". Austro-Hungarian army temporarily entered Belgrade, from 3 to 14 December 1914. Already on 4 December they erected gallows on Terazije for hanging civilians. Despite complete urbanization, local farmers, up to

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6972-488: The Balkans, but the outbreak of the war halted the realization, though the foundations were dug. The project was to be the third twin of the Palace Albanija , the tallest building and the first skyscraper in Belgrade and in the Balkans at the time. The future store was tentatively named "Mitić Warehouse" or "Mitić Tower", and was planned to be even taller than Albanija itself, with the height of 60 m (200 ft). After

7138-479: The Belgrade Fortress, and allowed the charge which liberated the wider area surrounding the Belgrade Main railway station , so just one day later the entire Belgrade was liberated. Modern appearance of Terazije is mostly set after 1947. City's main urbanist, Nikola Dobrović , in order to adapt the square for the May 1st military parade, demolished almost everything on the ground level, including all of

7304-624: The Belgrade Fortress, while the short-lived fountain was ultimately built. Načić designed the triumphal arch which was placed in Terazije in order to celebrate Serbian soldiers from the Balkan Wars 1912–1913. She placed an inscription "Not all Serbs are liberated" on the arch, pointing to the position of the Serbs in Austria-Hungary . During the occupation in World War I, Austro-Hungarian authorities arrested Načić and expelled her to

7470-588: The Dušan Jovanović Park, after a 13-year Romani boy beaten to death in 1997 by the skinheads in the vicinity of the Mitićeva Rupa. The motion was officially filed to the city government in October 2023. Built in 1888, the residence of Francis Mackenzie became known as the "Peace Salon" after it was ceremonially opened in 1889. Next to it, a pharmacist Kosta Nikolić built a one-storey house which became

7636-733: The Lux. Matijević's son, Bojan Matijević in the name of family's Mat Real Estate company, stated they are still interested. The hotel complex was then sold the Mat Real Estate for €25 million, and the contract was officially signed with the government on 17 January 2024. The Jat Apartments Kopaonik Hotel was built in the 1980s and is among the largest hotels within the Kopaonik hotels complex in Kopaonik ski resort . The Jat Airways hotel in Vršac

7802-610: The Serbian Chamber of Commerce in 2011 but she didn't pay the fees, so the case was dismissed. Šaranović restated her claim in 2015, paid the late fees, and asked for $ 2 million with interest. Without any proceedings, just based on her statement, the Chamber ruled in her favor in 2016. The ruling can't be appealed at the Chamber, but can at the regular courts. The hotel appealed the Commerce Court in March 2017 asking for

7968-579: The Terazije Fountain is today (roughly at the small square between the [hotels] Balkan and Moskva; second was where the Ruski car Tavern is; and the third was where kafana Grčka Kraljica is now. The tallest of the three was the one at Terazije. That tower, beside its height, also stood on the spacious clearance, away from the surrounding houses and was taller than any of the neighboring buildings. All those towers were called "water terazije " by

8134-604: The Terazije Tunnel will be dug beneath it. Deemed "impressive" for its period and a "bald step towards the international architecture", it refreshed the grey urbanity of the socialist city and paved way for the future modernist buildings of the 1950s, like the Hotel Metropol . In 1950, the sculptural group by Lojze Dolinar , which represented merchant Sima Igumanov , his prematurely died son and youth from South Serbia, popularly known as Sima Igumanov and orphans,

8300-459: The Terazije protected area are somewhat reduced: Čumićeva, Nušićeva, Dečanska, Nikola Pašić Square, Kneza Miloša , Andrićev Venac, Dobrinjska, Kraljice Natalije, Sremska. Both definitions excluded the most prominent Terazije feature, Palace Albanija. As the central and one of the most famous squares in Belgrade, it is the location of many famous Belgrade buildings. The most important hotels, restaurants and shops are or were located here. Bezistan

8466-617: The Turks. Because of that, the entire neighborhood of the new section of Belgrade, especially the one between the Stari Dvor and close to the Stambol Gate , is today called Terazije". For the word itself, it literally means "[water] scales", more commonly known as "water balances" or su terazisi . But the tower-like structures were more than just scales - they were maintaining water pressure when conveying water to neighbourhoods at

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8632-462: The World War II, when Belgrade was administratively reorganized from districts ( raions ) into the municipalities in 1952, Terazije had its own municipality with the population of 17,858 in 1953. However, already on 1 January 1957 the municipality was dissolved and divided between the municipalities of Vračar and Stari Grad. Population of the modern local community ( mesna zajednica ) of Terazije

8798-530: The Zeleni Venac area. Zeleni Venac is built in the area that was previously part of the trench which surrounded the Belgrade Fortress in the 18th century. When the trench was covered, a pond was formed, partially filled by the stream from Terazije. Today's central city square turned into the bog filled in sludge and covered with overgrowth. Local population visited the pond hunting for ducks. It

8964-633: The access section of the Čumić Alley. Jat Airways Hotels Jat Airways Hotels are a chain of hotels in Serbia . The hotel chain was once subsidiary of the national airline of Serbia - Jat Airways which rebranded to Air Serbia in 2013. It is still a partner of the airline and held the name of the former airline for a while, but was later renamed back to the Slavija Hotel Belgrade. In Belgrade there are three Jat Airways Hotels. All are called Slavija hotels as they are located on

9130-530: The annulment of the Chamber's decision. The debt collector (in Serbia called "public executor") announced an auction for the "Slavija Lux" building. The hotel complained asking for the delay of auction to July 2017, citing the ongoing case at the Commerce Court and additionally sued the members of the Arbitrary Commission of the Chamber. The collector set the auction for December 2017 and rejected

9296-501: The area are not held by the "Sebre", and the project was still unknown, deputy mayor Goran Vesić in May 2021 announced that the Czech company will build "a magnificent building", with triumphal arch . In 2021, the Do not let Belgrade drown organized a petition "For park in Slavija", to turn the area into the permanent, proper park. In October 2022, it was proposed that the park should be named

9462-581: The area became known as the Kuzmanović Alley, or Kuzmanović Yard. Initially, quite a successful business area, by the 1930s the shops went bankrupt and were closed. The alley was transformed into an informal settlement . In the reprint of its article from 13 March 1937, daily Politika writes about the city's decision to tear down the Kuzmanović Yard: It seems that another disgrace will disappear from Belgrade, but much larger and more dangerous for

9628-470: The authorities, turned out to be a large concrete-granite plateau. Even though still being under construction, the cracks and deterioration were quite visible by February 2018. City architect Milutin Folić then announced that the plateau will host info-center, public restroom, a mini store and an observation point from which people could watch the fountain. He set the deadline for October 2018. Still, by April 2018

9794-458: The busiest traffic in the city, thus inaccessible to the pedestrians, and a price which is, for the Serbian economic conditions deemed way to high for such a construction (214 million dinars or some 1.75 million euros), Belgrade's city manager Goran Vesić stated that those who do not like the musical fountain don't have to listen to it. On 13 November 2016 the bust of Dimitrije Tucović was removed and on 15 December 2016 his remains were reinterred into

9960-411: The citizens were interviewed about such major changes, administration refused to disclose any documents. The architects, however, don't consider Slavija a proper square, neither in traffic nor in social-gathering sense. It is rather a plain roundabout, and a badly organized one. Due to numerous and constant changes in the architectural structure of the urban tissue surrounding the square, Slavija became

10126-425: The city was described as a "nightmare". Concerning Slavija, there was also a matter of the fountain which was shut down and conserved until the works on the square were finished. Fountain worked only for two and a half months, so questions are asked why the square wasn't finished first, cause now there are additional costs (conservation, etc.) for the already too expensive fountain. The works on Slavija were awarded to

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10292-402: The city. This action met with almost unanimous public odium. In order to support Serbian health workers, on 11 April he organized gathering of city communal workers, who parked various vehicles around the fountain during the total pandemic curfew . At the time when citizens already began to support health workers with applause in the evening, early 1-minute long applause, with Vesić's TV statement

10458-463: The club organized dance competitions for participants from the entire Yugoslavia. Band Zana was promoted for the first time here, while band Aska practiced its choreography for their performance at the 1982 Eurovision song contest . The venue was closed in 1989. Bezistan covers an area of 13,667 m (147,110 sq ft). The major feature within Bezistan was the "Kozara" cinema, one of

10624-414: The coach one day, prince asked Živković to whom belongs one of the lots without the fence. Živković replied it was his, but the prince said: Well, now it's not yours anymore, when you failed to fence it all this time. Politician and a businessman Stojan Simić , member of the influential Simić family , purchased the lot at the end of Terazije in the late 1830s. It was a piece of marshland which encompassed

10790-452: The complaint on 3 January 2018, after 7 months and a warning from the Court of Appeals and organized the auction prior to the court's ruling on the hotel's complaint. The auction was held on 16 January 2018, and the only bidder was the Serbian "meat king", Petar Matijević who purchased the hotel for €6.5 million. He paid the amount but had to accept the provision that the sale is not closed until

10956-399: The construction of a fortress was hampered by a vengeful fairy who destroyed by night everything the workers would build by day. The deadline was then prolonged again, to 31 August. On 1 September, works officially ended and the drinking fountain has been placed, with journalists noting that no one will probably ever be blamed or punished for such a sloppy work. It turned out that not everything

11122-401: The court issues its final ruling on the matter. The hotel sent another complaint and on 22 January 2018 the court voided the transaction because it wasn't legally established if there is really a debt to "Fil Šar", hence the hotel couldn't be sold. The final ruling is still being awaited. In October 2023 the government announced second attempt at selling hotels, this time all of them, not just

11288-552: The cultural establishment called it unacceptable, opposed to the meaning of the holiday and political campaigning. Though the idea wasn't publicly dropped, the fountain remained silent on holiday. Vesić ordered for the fountain and several other city landmarks to be lit in the lights of the German flag, supporting Germany in fighting the outbreak, on the eve of 6 April, anniversary of the vicious 1941 German bombing of Belgrade , which killed several thousand people and destroyed up to 25% of

11454-457: The damages and cracks were widespread and the granite plating of the plateau began to crumble. The city secretariats, contractors and planners all accused each other, blaming the bad project, dumping prices, bad sub-contractors, etc. The same contractor, "MBA MIljković" has been previously hired by the city several times and each time there were problems (Vojvode Stepe Street, Ruzveltova Street), but city continued to hire them "because they always had

11620-544: The elite shopping locations in Belgrade, with numerous cafés, galleries and clubs in addition. It is also the shortest passage between the squares of the Republic and of Nikola Pašić. The entire alley complex, designed by architect Milutin Gec, was finished in 1991. By the late 1990s, when other shopping malls started to open around the city, the decline of Čumić began. By 2010, the district was almost completely abandoned, becoming

11786-432: The empty lot, city government turned it into the temporary parking lot. As of 2020, the area is still a parking and the land is in the process of restitution to the descendants of its pre-nationalization owners. One of the nationalized parcels, owned by the medical doctor and radiologist Aleksandar Marković (1878-1961), which covers 400 m (4,300 sq ft), was returned to his descendants in October 2020. Majority of

11952-515: The entire neighborhood. Word "Slavija" itself is a generic term for land inhabited by the Slavs . Until World War II Slavija remained an unregulated crossroad of eight streets, which crossed at different angles. Surrounding was an entangled web of small streets which, though cobblestoned in the early 20th century, were remains of the old, dirt paths dating from the Ottoman period. However, the plans in

12118-500: The evening) and was indeed too loud - it was heard several blocks away. Local residents called both the communal inspection and the communal police, but they both declared themselves incompetent. Milan Vujanić, professor at the University of Belgrade 's Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, asserted that the fountain is still a safety risk. Architect Borislav Stojkov , who devised the 1979 urbanistic plan for Slavija, called it

12284-402: The existing zebra crossings 50 to 100 meters further from the roundabout. They kept the fountain on the central island of the roundabout which was to be a musical fountain with a diameter of 32 meters and the water jets 16 meters high. Criticism from the architects was directed to the fact that transportation solutions will not speed up the traffic flow, the needlessness of the fountain on such

12450-733: The fact permitted constructions. Demolition of the block began on 17 August 2023. The area was partially placed under preliminary protection as potential cultural monument. but the preliminary protection expired on 25 December 2020, the protection was not confirmed, and the demolition was allowed. Demolished buildings include the Old Citizens Savings Bank from the 19th century (at the corner of Svetozara Markovića and Kralja Milana streets), Citizens Savings Bank (1929, by Stevan Tobolar; 43 Svetozara Markovića), and 1927 building by Milan Zloković at No. 47. All buildings have individual architectural values but are not protected. Slavija

12616-487: The first half of the 19th century. In the 1840s, Serbian ruling prince Miloš Obrenović wanted to resettle Serbian population from the old moated town where they had been mixed with the Turkish inhabitants, and from the neighborhood of Savamala on the bank of the Sava river in order to modernize it. He ordered Serbian craftsmen, especially blacksmiths , cartwrights and coppersmiths , to build their houses and shops on

12782-588: The first reconstruction of the square in 1911, the chestnut avenue was cut, while the česma was moved to Topčider in 1912. In 1860, construction of the Palace with Towers, next to the Old Konak began. It was intended to be the palace of the heir apparent prince Mihailo Obrenović . The prince never used it, residing mostly in the Little Palace which he built next to the Old Konak, while his court hosted

12948-424: The flower beds and the other urban ornaments, so as the fountain. The wooden cobbles were removed and two separate traffic lanes were molded into connected carriageways and the adjoining Nušićeva Street was closed for traffic from the Terazije direction. After 1948 the main square in Belgrade was narrowed, double tram tracks from both sides were removed and a number of modernist buildings were constructed, forming

13114-536: The fountain actually can't forgive him "because he participated in three strongest, most compelling victories in the modern Serbian history", referring to the last three electoral rounds. He asserted that the fountain is among the ten most beautiful ones in Europe. The fountain was damaged in December 2017 when a van, which participated in the three-car collision, hit its outer granite plates, forcing it out of service for

13280-540: The fountain damaging it), it has been described as the controversial, "creature" and "jinxed attraction", with dubious effect on traffic safety in the square. Occasional crashes into the fountain continued in 2019 and 2021. Controversies continued around the COVID-19 pandemic , mostly because of deputy mayor Vesić. He announced the fountain would play "patriotic" songs for the Statehood Day on 15 February. Part of

13446-522: The fountain on the square which would include the monument to victory. The ideas came after the Balkan Wars and were triggered by the ceremonial entry of the Serbian army in Belgrade after the war ended, and the construction of the Karađorđe monument in Kalemegdan. Due to World War I which ensued shortly after, the decisions weren't fully implemented: the name wasn't changed, the monument was relocated to

13612-435: The fountain will have wind sensors. Architect Dragoljub Bakić said that both the project, and the execution which followed, are of the "horribly low quality". Actually, the area of the already busy roundabout is reduced by one lane during the reconstruction. Construction of the fountain began on 3 December 2016. As a response to the constant criticism about the fountain, including that it will be completely surrounded by some of

13778-413: The fountain. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić , who in terms of administration or jurisdiction has nothing to do with the fountain, defended the project saying that he can't give an answer to "those who complain that they have no access to the fountain...what did they expect, that they will be able to wash their feet in it" and to "people who hate the entire world". Vučić added that those who criticize

13944-410: The gambling business in the hotel. The management claims that he didn't invest a dime and in 2005, after another change of regulations, hotel quit on the gambling completely. At that point, Šaranović sued the state because of that, but lost the case. Šaranović, a crime boss involved in drugs, thefts and executions, was assassinated in 2009. His widow, Katarina Šaranović, initiated the arbitration at

14110-454: The ground (plus 15,500 m (167,000 sq ft) below), instead of the projected 21,000 m (230,000 sq ft) envisioned by the competition, the Sudžums withdrew deeming it inappropriate for this location. The developer itself is controversial. Partially owned by the former footballer Dejan Stanković , it is known for the corruptive deals with city officials, and illegal, or after

14276-420: The hanged victims, marking the 224th anniversary of Prince Eugene of Savoy taking Belgrade in 1717 . A monument to commemorate the crime was erected in 1981 by the city. Titled "Monument to the hanged patriots" and sculptured by Nikola Janković, the obelisk-shaped monument is 4 m (13 ft) tall with a diameter of 80 cm (31 in). It is posted on the marble pedestal and has carvings representing

14442-484: The health and lives of the people than that eyesore that "Albania" was. A row of shacks and hovels in "Kuzmanović yard", which altogether cover an area of 4.000 m2 between the streets of Dečanska, Pašićeva nad Kolarčeva, will disappear. Belgrade municipality sent its commission yesterday to check the condition of the "Kuzmanović yard". The commission established that the shanties and burrows are prone to collapse any minute and that it will advocate for them to be demolished, in

14608-690: The heavy "Easter bombing" of Belgrade by the Allies on 16 April 1944. The palace was fiercely defended by the Germans during the 1944 Belgrade Offensive against the Red Army and Yugoslav Partisan forces. In the evening of 19 October 1944, a Partisan soldier Mladen Petrović placed the Yugoslav flag with red star on the top of the building. Taking over the building opened the way for the Partisan army to

14774-554: The hotels there is a stop for a special bus line directly to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport . Hotels were separated from the JAT company in 2005. All three hotels became controlled by the government until a suitable buyer was found in 2007. In 1988, the management of the Slavija hotel signed a contract with the Kin Stib company, owned by George Jablan. The management was obliged to obtain necessary permits for gambling ("live games"), but

14940-646: The house of Lazar Arsenijević Batalaka and kafana "Kod Dva Tigra". Disreputable at the time, it was later replaced with the Palace Atina  [ sr ] building and the famous 1970s and 1980s "Atina" restaurant. A bit away was the Krsmanović House , or later known as the Protocol Building. Purchased by the Krsmanović brothers, it was the location of the 1918 unification proclamation of

15106-564: The interest of health and lives of the tenants . The shantytown was demolished by 1940. The alley was later renamed Čumićevo Sokače ("Čumić Alley") after a politician Aćim Čumić , former mayor of Belgrade and prime minister of Serbia. In 1989, the first modern shopping mall (concurrently with the Staklenac on the Republic Square) in Belgrade was opened in Čumić Alley, colloquially shortened only to Čumić. It soon became one of

15272-444: The lack of any maintenance, the decorative decking deteriorated by 2023, but city accused citizens using skateboards and bicycles. In general, the plateau never became a gathering point of citizens as intended, due to the lack of practicality in design and lack of greenery. Lack of residents and social component for architect Bojan Kovačević is a confirmation that Slavija is actuallz not a proper square. In November 2021 city announced

15438-425: The last "scar" which divided city parts on the opposite sides of the trench, thus making Terazije one urban unit with the older part of the city. This prompted accelerated urbanization, not only of Terazije, but of the other neighborhoods outside of the old city limits. When the first horsecar was introduced in Belgrade, on 14 October 1892, the station was located in Terazije, next to the fountain. The Little Palace

15604-541: The late Interbellum included almost complete makeover of Slavija, with construction of numerous important buildings, including the Belgrade Opera House and the "Mitić Tower", the largest department store and the tallest building in the Southeast Europe. All plans, including some foundations already laid, were cut by the outbreak of World War II in 1941. German occupational forces concluded that

15770-403: The legal gambling regulations changed so the hotel failed to do so. According to the management, in the next 7 annexes of the contract, they settled everything with Jablan and that final annex, from 1998, confirms there is no debt. By the 8th annex, from 2000, Branislav Šaranović, a collaborator of Jablan (who was assassinated in 1998) and owner of the "Fil Šar" company from Vienna, Austria, entered

15936-403: The line from Terazije to Varoš Kapija and lifted the price to 3 groschen . Terazije Quarter was officially formed on 3 March 1860, so Terazije administratively became part of Belgrade, so as the other neighborhoods outside of the former trench. After the incident at the Čukur Fountain, Ottoman garrison withdrew from the Stambol Gate. The gate was demolished from 26 April to 31 May 1866, removing

16102-414: The location of the present square, an empty, inhabited area spreading in front of the Stambol Gate. Also, the move was intended to prevent the fires being lit all over the town and tone down the noise made by these specific types of artisans. However, the craftsmen and artisans refused to relocate, especially the residents of Savamala as prince Miloš planned to relocate them even further than Terazije, to

16268-404: The lowest price". City ordered them to fix the problems by May or the penalties will be collected. The repair of the still unfinished plateau began on 18 April 2018, with deadline set to mid-May. As works barely progressed, city extended the deadline until early August. The construction on Slavija has been jokingly named "The Building of Slavija", after epic poem The Building of Skadar in which

16434-430: The major transloading and packaging spots in Belgrade. It had a vast yard, which also included stables and quarters for merchants and bullockies , where the goods and food arriving from the interior were stored and repackaged for the city markets. The complex survived until the 1920s. In 1935, one of the richest people in Belgrade before World War II, Vlada Mitić , bought the lot to build the largest department store in

16600-459: The ministries of interior and foreign affairs. The building was designed by Kosta Šrepalović. On 24 May 1860, privately owned predecessor of the public transport in Belgrade was organized. The omnibus line was operated by the diligences . Its starting point was in Terazije, at the kafana "Kod Zlatnog Venca", and connected it to Topčider . The enterprise wasn't much lucrative so the owner Luka Jakovljević sold it in 1861 to Milan Tešić, who expanded

16766-462: The modern features of Stari dvor , Pioneers Park and Park Aleksandrov . By the summer of 1840, he drained the marsh, filled and leveled the terrain and on the northern side of the modern Kralja Milana street built a luxurious mansion from 1840 to 1842. The edifice became known as the Old Konak . Development of the first Serbian royal compound began in 1843, when the state leased the mansion, with

16932-583: The modern parking lot is located on it. There are three Slavija hotels on the square: The old hotel Slavija from 1962, in the manner of the International style is today viewed by the Belgraders as an obsolete and ugly building, with its hospital-like look, especially compared to the modern marble and glass Slavija Lux which perfectly fits into the buildings behind it. Inside the hotel is elaborately decked out with wooden panelling on most surfaces in

17098-486: The most popular in Belgrade for decades. It was closed in 2003, purchased by Croatian tycoon Ivica Todorić and allegedly planned as a supermarket for Todorić's Serbian brand "Idea" before it was destroyed by fire on 25 May 2012 It has been left in that condition ever since. Bezistan had candy and souvenir shops on one side, and modernistic section on other side, with McDonald's restaurant, modern coffee shop and "Reiffeisen bank", but as of 2018 it looks like nothing more than

17264-413: The name Terazije, the historian and writer Milan Đ. Milićević wrote: "In order to supply Belgrade with water, the Turks built towers at intervals along the đeriza or an aqueduct , a water supply system which brought water in from the springs at Veliki Mokri Lug . The water was piped up into the towers for the purpose of increasing the pressure, in order to carry it further. Those towers were: one, where

17430-460: The neighborhood of Savamala . The remnant of the pond is the large underground water spring under the modern Hotel Slavija. The earth from the top of the Vračar hill above the Slavija was used to cover and drain the pond, in turn flattening the hill and creating the modern Vračar plateau. The formation of the square started when a well-known Scottish businessman and Nazarene Francis Mackenzie , bought

17596-566: The neighborhood of Zeleni Venac and further to New Belgrade , and by the Kolarčeva street to the Square of the Republic . The neighborhood also borders Andrićev Venac and Pioneers Park on the southeast, Park Aleksandrov on the south and neighborhood of Varoš Kapija on the west. A small, covered square of Bezistan connects it to the Nikola Pašić Square. With regard to the origin of

17762-618: The neutral countries protested because of these public hangings, so in the end the Austrians moved dead bodies to the Belgrade New Cemetery . Due to the history of this type of executions, the phrase "hanging at Terazije" entered the Serbian language. It can be variously used in different context: as a threat, offering self-sacrifice or protesting one's innocence. The square and the Palace Albania were hit during

17928-406: The new communist regime renamed the square in 1947 in honor of prominent socialist figure, Dimitrije Tucović and placed a bronze bust of Tucović at the central square plateau. The bust, work of Stevan Bodnarov , was placed in 1949. In the early 2000s it was officially changed back to Slavija. Hotel Slavija was built in 1962, and enlarged later (complex Slavija A and Slavija B). A third addition,

18094-569: The north and north-east, and Englezovac and Savinac in the south-east, all in Vračar. The Manjež park is to the north, while West Vračar is to the west, both in Savski Venac. Until the 1880s, the area around Slavija was a large pool on the eastern outskirts of the city. The pond was naturally drained by the Vračarski potok , down the modern Nemanjina street , into the Gypsy Pond in

18260-477: The northeast connecting directly Terazije and Belgrade Fortress , the square is one of the oldest and most recognizable ambience units of Belgrade. Due to its historical and cultural importance, Terazije was declared a protected spatial cultural-historical unit in January 2020. Despite the fact that many Belgraders consider the Republic Square or Kalemegdan to be the city's centerpiece areas, Terazije

18426-477: The nursery garden he personally established in Topčider during the 1830s, when he arranged the park. The chestnut avenue in Terazije was planted in double rows. Up to about 1865, the buildings at Terazije were mainly single and double-storied. The water tower was removed in 1860 and replaced by the drinking fountain, "Terazijska česma", which was erected in to celebrate the second rule of Prince Miloš Obrenović. During

18592-587: The occupiers, a military commander of Serbia Heinrich Danckelmann and the head of the Belgrade Gestapo Carl Krauss ordered a killing of five Serbs on Terazije. The executed victims were Velimir Jovanović (b.1893) and Ratko Jević (b. 1913), farmers, Svetislav Milin (b. 1915), a shoemaker, Jovan Janković (b.1920), a tailor, and Milorad Pokrajac (b. 1924), a high school student, only 17 years old. They were arrested, accused of alleged terrorist activities and brutally tortured before being shot in

18758-513: The only work that has been done was the reconstruction of the plateau and the fountain in 2011. A popular disco club "Bezistan" was opened in the 1980s. It was located in the basement of the venue which was later adapted into the McDonald restaurant. It was different from other discos of the era, and was the only "dancing club" in the city. When the popularity of the Italo disco reached Belgrade,

18924-504: The other hand, also accused occasional skaters of breaking the slabs. City ordered the contractors to fix the plateau until December 2019, when the warranty expires, or the city will activate the collateral. The elevated part of the plateau, in one of the corners, was envisioned as the location of the Belgrade Tourist Organization office, public restroom and a kiosk. As of July 2019, nothing has been built. Due to

19090-427: The outer Kralja Milana and Nemanjina streets, was to include green, pedestrian passage which would directly connect the square and Manjež. Project, drafted by Anđela Karabašević Sudžum and Vladislav Sudžum, also included construction of additional floors on the old, already existing buildings in the area. When the developer, Maison Royal company, asked for 32,800 m (353,000 sq ft) of total floor area above

19256-495: The period say that some citizens calmly paid respect, but others gathered, with parents bringing children and professors their students, showing to them what the "new German culture" actually looks like. As the hanging was announced by the Germans in the press, and the news and photos were published, the bodies were removed on the evening of the same day. On the same day, a procession of the Volksdeutsche units marched next to

19422-494: The place in the first half of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, Dafiment banka , one of the major Ponzi schemes of the Milošević's regime , bought the lot and announced a monumental shopping mall, but after the scheme failed completely, the lot was fenced and turned into the dump . After the regime change in 2000, the area was cleaned and a temporary park with children playground was built instead. The failed projects continued, including

19588-520: The plateau. Over the cracked concrete, the decking began, but the deck started deteriorating and cracking right away, even before the placing of it was finished. The bust of Tucović was returned to the square on 16 October 2018, but placed on the new pedestal built on the plateau, close to the building of the National Bank. In July 2019, ten months after the official completion of the works, city administration admitted there are damages, though it

19754-459: The project for the block between the square's plateau and the Manjež park, in the northwest direction. It included construction of three buildings, 13-storey building at the square, 14-storey building across the park, and 6-storey building which would connect two residential towers. The connecting building was to have a green roof , with park cultivated on it. Central section of the block, parallel to

19920-413: The provisions envisioned by the project were built: new wide paved sidewalks, formation of the square, a fountain, change in tram tracks for better and faster traffic and removal of the public pissoirs . A monument to Dositej Obradović , which was projected, was erected in a different neighborhood. The changes in 1911–1913 were significant and the square was completely re-arranged. With Léger, major work

20086-479: The rare true squares in downtown Belgrade. Today, it is one of the most vibrant traffic objects in Belgrade, being one of the major squares of Belgrade. It is one of the rare traffic routes in the city where all three types of public transportation (buses, trolleybuses and trams ) meet. Due to the general inadequacy of the city's transportation, traffic jams are regular on the square and especially hard if helped by some additional reason (bad weather, snow, especially

20252-616: The reconstructions of the Ruzveltova street (which began in May), Bulevar Oslobođenja and Slavija (June), Bore Stankovića (July) Branko's Bridge , Plateau of Milan Mladenović and Beogradska (August) and Glavna in Zemun , all overlapped in August. The summer of 2017 has been named as an example of a good idea with a bad plan, it was nicknamed the "hell summer", while the commuting through

20418-413: The reports of further deterioration of the ceiling in January 2021, city announced that Bezistan will not be renovated in 2021 either, even though it became part of the Terazije protected area in January 2020. In the early 20th century, a section behind the main square became a hub of commercial and craft shops. After the owner of the lot, quite big for the central urban zone of the city, Živko Kuzmanović,

20584-415: The rooms. It features a Casino and large dining room. The hotel was never fully renovated and still operates, though not using all rooms. The hotel was opened in 1962 before the 7th European Athletics Championships . The oldest section, Slavija I, also known as Kula ("Tower"), has 17 floors. Slavija II was added in 1973, serving as the dependency of Slavija I. Slavija Lux, built in only 6 months in 1989,

20750-493: The scenes of the hanging and commemorative lyrics by the poet Vasko Popa . In 1983 a memorial bronze plaque, work of Slave Ajtoski, was added. It contains names of the victims and an epitaph : "To freedom fighters who were hanged by the Fascist occupiers in Terazije on 17 August 1941", signed by "citizens of Belgrade". The plaque got damaged in time and was removed in 2008, during the reconstruction of Terazije, for restoration. It

20916-410: The square and the surrounding area of 23 ha (57 acres) was placed under the state protection as the spatial cultural-historical unit. Terazije quarter had a population of 6,333 by the 1883 census of population. According to the further censuses, the population of Terazije was 5,273 in 1890, 6,074 in 1895, 6,494 in 1900, 6,260 in 1905, 9,049 in 1910 and 7,038 in 1921. For a short period after

21082-421: The square as a transfer station for further commuting to downtown, with additional bus line 22A being introduced as trolleybuses replacement, further polluting already highly polluted city. This caused instant traffic jams in Slavija, already burdened by the massive traffic. Already crowded, the remaining lines became almost useless during the rush hours as they were constantly overcrowded, while pedestrian part of

21248-460: The square became a "race track" for the commuters who have to run to make a transfer as neither the timetable nor the location of the stations were synchronized. It was pointed out that after the reconstruction the traffic worked "somehow", but that after latest changes it collapsed completely. City authorities stated they acted after "serious analyses and talks" and upon wishes of the citizens. Asked to make public those analyses and explain when and how

21414-501: The square, where the famous cafés "Tri seljaka" and "Rudničanin" used to be, were destroyed before and during World War II . Today demolished, the original inn, later hotel "Slavija" was built from 1882 to 1888. The hotel's kafana became one of the best known in Belgrade. The venue had a big hall for the parties and balls, and a spacious summer, open-air garden. The hotel hosted recitals, theatrical shows and choirs performances. The large object gave name to its surroundings, and then to

21580-490: The surrounding garden, as the court for the ruling prince Alexander Karađorđević . As the royal family now moved into the neighborhood, first regulatory plan for Terazije, which envisioned it as the new commercial and business center of Belgrade, was drafted in 1843. The idea for the monument to Karađorđe , leader of the First Serbian Uprising from 1804 to 1813, appeared in 1853 and the proposed location

21746-438: The surroundings and also that Slavija was to be envisioned as a whole and not to be fixed partially, because sum of the parts does not make a whole. Some of the projects were quite over-ambitious and exotic: After the political changes in the city government in 2013, new city authorities decided to adopt the 2012 project, with some changes. They abandoned the idea of the underground pedestrian passages and instead plan to displace

21912-406: The then distant village of Palilula , "behind God's back". The prince resorted to violence. He gathered his henchmen and thugs and sent them to Savamala in 1835. As the settlement was still just a shanty town, with houses made of rotten wood and mud, all the houses were demolished in one day, without any demolition equipment. Additionally, the ustabasha , chief of the cartwright and blacksmith guild,

22078-413: The traditional white uniforms. As the fountain is unreachable, Vesić stated that the new park, across the fountain, will be a place where the "citizens will gather, watch at the fountain and take photos of it". Experts' criticism of the fountain continued. During the trials in the days before it was officially opened, music was played all day (after the opening it is several hours before noon and several in

22244-568: The traffic flow rate in Slavija was too low and that it obstructed transportation. City government, part of the Quisling administration in Serbia , was entrusted with the task of conducting construction plans for Slavija devised in Germany. Massive works, headed by engineer Maksimović, began in the fall of 1942. Apart from transforming Slavija into the proper roundabout, underground works were also conducted. A major effluent sewer (sewage collector)

22410-430: The traffic. Ban on further construction was suggested if the inadequacies are not fixed. The solution turned out to be a changed direction of the sprinklers, 74 out of 458, within the fountain. Lit with 400 spotlights , the fountain was opened on 6 June 2017, after a month of delay, and at the final cost of 254 million dinars (2,06 million euros), with taxes. The traffic policemen who manage the traffic on Slavija now wear

22576-412: The ultra modern Slavija Lux was built in 1989. For decades, architects, urbanists and city authorities can't decide how to reconstruct and adapt the square. Over the time, many public competitions were held for the best solutions, labeling it sometimes as a “haunted square”. Architects always pointed out that the traffic function is the most important and that it has to be addresses first, and then to plan

22742-464: The ultra-modern, gigantic shopping mall by the Israeli investors which turned out to be a complete hoax. All of this was more than enough for people to consider the "hole" a cursed place. The park was renovated from April to July 2017. The entire lot covers 6.573 m (70.75 sq ft) and by 2021, one third was returned to the pre-World War II owners in the restitution process. In March 2021 it

22908-413: The war, Communist government imprisoned Vlada Mitić and confiscated his entire property, including the lot on Slavija, on the corner of the Kralja Milana and Beogradska streets, and money prepared for the construction of the department store. From 1946 to 1980 26 different project were completed for the lot, but none was realized. Then mayor of Belgrade, Bogdan Bogdanović decided to put a large sundial in

23074-455: The yard of the Gestapo headquarters. The entire ordeal happened on 17 August 1941. Their corpses were then hanged on the light poles on Terazije. For a long time, it was claimed that bodies were left for days, while the Belgraders were "sitting in restaurants and drinking cold beer". Historian Milan Koljanin wrote that this was a negative stereotype pushed for a decades. Police reports from

23240-429: Was "Zlatna Slavina" inn, frequently visited by the journalists and writers, adjoined by the bookstore and publishing house. The old hotel "Balkan" with one floor leaned on it. A bit protruding was the bakery ("bread shop") famous at the time for its products (egg burek , various kifli , pogačice , hot kaymak lepinjas ). In May 1904, the insurance company "Rusija" purchased the estate of Nikola Vuković across

23406-426: Was 5,033 in 1981, 4,373 in 1991 and 3,338 in 2002. Municipality of Stari Grad later abolished local communities. Borders of the Terazije local community were streets: Dečanska, Nikola Pašić Square, Kneza Miloša , Kraljice Natalije, Sremska, Kolarčeva and Makedonska. That way it encompassed Andrićev Venac , Pioneers Park , Park Aleksandrov , London , Terazije Terrace and part of historical Savamala . Borders of

23572-592: Was Terazije First official proposal came in 1857, from Toma Vučić-Perišić , one of the leaders of the Defenders of the Constitution . Though Ottoman administration over Serbia was limited at the time, it was still strong enough to prevent building of the monument. They couldn't allow a memorial to the bitter enemy of their empire. After the Saint Andrew's Day Assembly in 1858–1859, dethroned Miloš Obrenović

23738-454: Was a narrow extension of the square in this area, in the direction of the goldsmith Mihailo P. Petković's store, where the row of fiakers was usually parked. The Old Konak was demolished in 1904, while the Palace with Towers was torn down in 1911. Its demolition made space for the planned Novi Dvor . The foundation stone was laid in 1911. However, due to the ensuing strings of wars, it was completed only in 1922. Today, Stari Dvor serves as

23904-468: Was always a possibility for the city to demolish it and go with its plan. In May 2020 city reiterated that it will not demolish it, but due to the ownership issues, lack of paperwork, plans and designs, and COVID-19 pandemic , the reconstruction was moved for 2021. Nothing has been done by August 2022, when the reconstruction of the upper section of the Nušićeva Street was announced, which should include

24070-428: Was announced that the company didn't pay the insurance and pension fees for the workers since 2014, which raised question how the city could choose such a company because one of the conditions was that they have no debts to the state. On 13 October 2017, while the excavator was digging a channel on Slavija, a lump of hard material fell from its bucket onto the main water pipe in this part of the city causing it to burst. As

24236-418: Was announced that the private owners sold their parcels to the Czech developer "Sebre", which already purchased properties of Marina Dorćol and Avala Grad . According to the 2005 project of the square, which served as the basis for the development of the area, a massive commercial and residential building is planned. Citizens reacted by organizing a petition for the park to remain instead. Despite two thirds of

24402-513: Was built, which collected wastewater and groundwater from the hills of Vračar and Zvezdara . The sewer further conducted the water under the Nemanjina Street into the Sava river. As of 2022, the roundabout, sewer and its outlet into the river still function. In the 21st century, the massive size of the sewer and large pipes are major obstacles for the construction of the projected underground passages around Slavija. After World War II ,

24568-465: Was built, with several toy and slipper stores covered with roller shutters ( ćepenak ) at the ground level. The upper floor was the seat of the "Zvezda" monthly magazine, edited by Janko Veselinović . The "Zlatni Krst" kafana was built next to it, today replaced with the highrise built in the 1960s. There was also an "Albanez" inn, sort of students' mess hall , as its clientele were mostly high and middle school students, and their professors. Next to it

24734-416: Was built. A webbed roof, shaped like a semi-opened dome, made of concrete and projected by Vladeta Maksimović, was constructed to cover the plateau and the fountain. Because of that feature, and a small shops located in it, it was named "Bezistan", though it never functioned as the bezistan in its true, oriental sense of the term. Revitalization and reconstruction was projected for the second half of 2008, but

24900-474: Was completed even though the workers left on the deadline date, which prompted the mayor Zoran Radojičić to state how he is "disappointed because not everything was finished", while the arrangement of the plateau extended further. By November 2018 it was evident that the plateau was cracking all over again and was still being occasionally repaired. Allegedly, it was because of the trams passing by, even though city administration plans to conduct new tram tracks around

25066-424: Was deemed ugly and inappropriate for the location by many Belgraders and in 1994 the then governor of the bank, Dragoslav Avramović , stated that he would not move into the new building even if it were completed on time. The massive glass building was finished in 2006. Terazije Terazije ( Serbian Cyrillic : Теразијe ) is the central town square and the surrounding neighborhood of Belgrade , Serbia. It

25232-475: Was demolished in April and May 1881 to make way for the Stari Dvor . Designed by Aleksandar Bugarski , it was built on the orders by the prince, later king Milan Obrenović . The foundation stone was laid on 23 June 1881 and the building was finished by 1883. By the turn of the century, the square formed with an "egg-shaped" base, where the Palace Albanija is today. Near this base, a low, yellow house

25398-550: Was done by the architects Veselin Lučić, who designed the project, and Jelisaveta Načić . Along the central part of the square regular flower beds were placed, surrounded by a low iron fence. Refurbishment included artistic candelabra, public three-faced clock, a special kiosk in the Serbian-Byzantine style, circle bars for the protection of the trees in the avenue and granite curbs. On the side towards today's Nušićeva street

25564-504: Was done. After the Republic Square reconstruction in 2019, without any announced plans, and due to the botched works on the square and city administration's wish to turn the entire downtown into the pedestrian zone, lines of public transportation across the Slavija were partially shortened, making Slavija the terminus (trolleybuses 21 and 22), or were completely abolished (trolleybus 19). Thousands of commuters were then forced to use

25730-429: Was dug under Terazije in 1967, connecting Iguman's Palace with Hotel Moskva. Another underground passage, connecting Hotel Balkan and Palace Albanija, envisioned as an underground shopping mall, was finished in 1968. Terazije Tunnel, for traffic, was opened on 4 December 1970. On 12 December 1975, old Terazije Fountain was relocated from Topčider back to the square, and placed at its present location. On 25 January 2020,

25896-466: Was labeled magnificent by the government media, while the opposition called it a political campaign. After the fountain was opened, on 10 June 2017 the first phase of the reconstruction began. It includes the demolition of the smaller, illegally built edifices around Slavija. The latest change in the project includes a small park between the Kralja Milana and Nemanjina streets. The park will be

26062-530: Was leading through the gate into the city and across the moat. Also, the existence of the water tower, with drinking fountain, helped the area to become sort of the "parking lot" in front of the city entrance. After the collapse of the First Serbian Uprising , the Ottomans regained Belgrade in October 1813, and their vanguards burned wooden hovels in Savamala neighborhood. When the main Ottoman army landed,

26228-413: Was obvious before (cracks, including some quite long ad deep, especially on the cascade part of the plateau, sitting areas cracked and crumbled, broken slabs all over, neglected and out of order drinking fountain). City summoned the contractors who defended themselves claiming that city added additional jobs to then so they couldn't do the previously accepted jobs properly, but also blamed a weather. City, on

26394-485: Was one of the first public buildings in Belgrade after World War II projected outside of the Socialist realism style, rather being a Modernist edifice. The building also has an imitation of a penthouse with a series of "ribbed bachelor apartments ". Brkić had to follow two rules: the building was not to be higher than 8 storeys, which was the height of the neighboring building, and he had to take into consideration that

26560-546: Was opened for the 9th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement . Altogether, there are 600 rooms in all three buildings. Construction of the new building of the National Bank of Serbia also began in the early 1990s. It is located a little bit further from the square itself, but due to its size it is visible from many parts of Belgrade. Money problems caused a decade and a half of delays. A massive construction

26726-410: Was projected as the final square in a succession of squares around Belgrade's central route from Kalemegdan to Englezovac: Studentski Trg - Trg Republike - Terazije - Cvetni Trg -Slavija. In time, Studentski Trg and Terazije lost their square functions, becoming streets, while Cvetni Trg, with final changes in early 2000s, is completely defunct as a traffic object, so Slavija and Trg Republike remain as

26892-504: Was publicly beaten, receiving 25 hits. The artisans then agreed to relocate. Ilija Čarapić , the president of the Belgrade Municipality 1834–1835 and 1839–1840, had a special task of assigning the parcels in Terazije to these craftsmen and whoever accepted to fence the lot on his own, would have it for free. One of the lots was granted by prince Miloš to his favorite architect, Hadži Nikola Živković . Driving together in

27058-529: Was recorded that during the cold winters, wolves would reach the pond. The draining of the pond began in the 1830s, but the underground water from Terazije still soaks the land between Terazije and the Sava river. Being outside of the moat and the city walls at the time, it was considered "distant" by the citizens. As it was located in front of the Stambol Gate and close to the Tsarigrad Road , some artisan shops and khans developed in time. The road

27224-588: Was removed from the roof of Igumanov's bequest, the Igumanov's Palace. It wasn't just taken down, but was smashed with hammers by the members of the League of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia . This made a way for the first neon commercial signage in 1958. A mobile advertisement for the Zagreb's Chromos Corporation, it was the first neon commercial sign in Belgrade. In February 2020, deputy mayor Goran Vеsić said that

27390-526: Was restored to power and the idea of erecting a monument to Karađorđe on Terazije was abandoned. The "Kasina" kafana and later hotel was built in 1858. It was named as the gambling was organized for the VIP members (female variant of the word casino ). Clientele originally included members of the Serbian Progressive Party . National Assembly of Serbia was seated in the venue's hall for

27556-400: Was returned on 28 May 2011. Terazije, as the central city square, was also used as the hanging location by the previous occupiers, too. During World War I, the Austrians hanged at Terazije citizens who didn't obey the curfew . However, this resulted in incidents, where drunk Austrian soldiers would pull or drag the bodies of the hanged ones, so the bodies and the gallows were removed. Also,

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