SERBIA

Serbia is country number 80 on my quest to visit every country in the world. I have spent a week in the country mostly visiting 2 cities: Niš and Belgrade. I have spent most of my time looking for brutalist architectures and concrete blocks.

Serbia has been a fantastic surprise as I wasn't expecting to discover, not only a beautiful country but super friendly people. This is a list of the things I have enjoyed the most during my time there.


Belgrade

NIŠ
Bubanj Memorial Park

This has been on my bucket list for a very long time and the main reason why I decided to visit Serbia. It is a WW2 memorial to remember the execution of more than 10000 people. The main monument consists of 3 fists of different sizes: man, female and child hands.

Bubanj Memorial Park
Bubanj Memorial Park
 

National Theatre

National thatre
 

Crveni Krst concentration camp
A well preserved Nazi concentration camp, around 35000 prisoners passed through this camp.

DSCF4426LR.jpg
Crveni Krst concentration camp
Crveni Krst concentration camp
Crveni Krst concentration camp
 

Dom Vojske Srbije

Dom Vojske Srbije
Dom Vojske Srbije
 

Skull Tower
A structure that was once built with real human skulls. The structure is still standing but not entirely covered with skulls anymore. Originally around 950 skulls were covering the structure while currently only around 60 skulls are still placed on the tower.

Skull tower
Skull tower
Skul tower
 

Nis is not a very big city so I have spent some time walking around to discover more places.

DSCF4348LR.jpg

BELGRADE

I have reached Belgrade by train, not the quickest way to travel between the 2 cities as the regional train took 5.5 hours. I haven't looked at other alternatives, but surely there is a bus that connects the 2 cities with a shorter journey. The train ticket cost around 800 RSD.

I spent 5 days in Belgrade mostly hunting for big concrete blocks in the newer part of the city. I didn't take any public transports while in the city and I walked all the time (with one day doing a total of 35 km on foot).

Belgrade

Blok 30
One of my favourite buildings in Belgrade with the iconic Coca Cola signs at the top.

BLOK 30 BELGRADE
 

Bombed Chinese Embassy
This is the location of the tragic bombing of the Chinese Embassy. At the location there is a statue and a sign to remember the people that died during this attack. A new building is now under construction.

Bombed Chinese embassy
 

Hotel Juoslavija

Hotel Jugoslavija
 

Genex Tower / Western gate

Genex tower
Genex tower
Genex tower
Genex tower
 

Palata Srbija

Palata Srbija
 

Blok 45

In the area of Blok 45, there is a bar all decorated with framed pictures of the worst dictators and of the worst war criminals.

This is the same place where Radovan Karadžić used to go when he was a fugitive and was known as Dr Dragan David Dabić. Pictures of himself were on the wall when he used to be a regular at the place but apparently, nobody recognised him!

What is crazy is that Radovan Karadžić is a war criminal and committed genocide crimes in Bosnia during the 90s war and still, he has his own murals outside the bar of these crazy people!

Dragan David Dabić
Dragan David Dabić
Gaddafi
Putin
Milosevic

Street art
Numerous pieces of street art around the city, easy to spot just by walking around.

Nikola Tesla Street art
Belgrade Street Art
Belgrade Street Art

Tito Mausoleum
This is another place that I really liked visiting. I didn't plan a visit there but I had a spare afternoon and I decided to go. My favourite part is the display of the many relay batons used during the relay of youth.

Tito Mausoleum
Tito Mausoleum
Tito Mausoleum
Tito Mausoleum
Tito Mausoleum
Lenin Tito Mausoleum