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The Panonian Plain doesn't "meet the Balkan Peninsula" -- it's ON the Balkan Peninsula; it meets the Balkan MOUNTAINS.
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{{otheruses}}
{{Serbian cities 4|
|Latin Name=Beograd
|Cyrillic Name=Београд
|Common Name=Belgrade
|panorama=Image:NoviBG Nov30 2005.jpg
|Image of Flag=Image:Flag of Belgrade.png
|Coat of arms Image=Image:Belgrade Coat of Arms small.svg
|Map of City=Image:Beoogradloc.png
|Location={{SER}}[[Image:Serbia-map-with-flag.gif]]
|Area=359.96 km² <small>(City)</small><br>3222.68 km² <small>(Metropolitan<br>area)</small>
|Population=1,281,801<ref name=popis>{{cite book
| author = Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
| title = Национална или етничка припадност - подаци по насељима
| url = http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/Zip/NEP1.pdf
| format = PDF
| accessdate = 2006-10-29
| edition = Књиге резултата Пописа 2002.
| year = 2002
| publisher = Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
| location = Belgrade
| language = Serbian
| page = 14
}}</ref> <small>(City)</small><br>1,576,124<ref name=popis/> <small>(Metropolitan<br>area)</small>
|Census Year=2002
|Density=488.42/km² <!-- 1576124/3227 -->
|Coordinates={{coor at dm|44|49|N|20|28|E|type:city(1273651)}}
|Postal Code=11000
|Area Code=+381(0)11
|License Plate Code=BG
|Website=[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=220 www.beograd.org.yu]
|Mayor=[[Nenad Bogdanović]]
|Party=[[Democratic Party (Serbia)|DS]]
|Year Elected=2004
|Governing Parties= [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|DS]]/[[Democratic Party of Serbia|DSS]]/[[G17 Plus|G17+]]
|Month of Elections=October
|Year of Elections=2004
|Municipalities=17
}}
'''Belgrade''' ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]: Београд or ''Beograd'' {{Audio|sr-Beograd.ogg|listen}}) is the [[capital]] and largest city of [[Serbia]]. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, first emerging as prehistoric [[Vinča culture|Vinča]] in [[5th millennium BC|4800 BC]]. The city was settled in the [[3rd century BC]] by the [[Celts]], before becoming the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement of [[Singidunum]].<ref name="Vinca">{{cite book
| author = Nikola Tasić
| coauthors = Dragoslav Srejović, Bratislav Stojanović
| editor = Vladislav Popović
| other = Smiljka Kjurin (translator)
| title = Vinča: Centre of the Neolithic culture of the Danubian region
| url = http://www.rastko.org.yu/arheologija/vinca/vinca_eng.html
| accessdate = 2006-10-28
| year = 1990
| location = Belgrade
| chapter = Vinča and its Culture
| chapterurl = http://www.rastko.org.yu/arheologija/vinca/vinca_eng.html#_Toc504111710
}}</ref><ref name="ancient">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201172 City of Belgrade - History (Ancient Period)]</ref> The [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] name ''Beligrad'' (a form of ''Beograd'') was first recorded in [[878]] [[Anno Domini|AD]]. It has been the capital of Serbia since [[1403]] and was the capital of the various incarnations of [[Yugoslavia]] from [[1918]] until [[2003]], as well as of the [[Serbia and Montenegro|State Union of Serbia and Montenegro]] from [[2003]] until [[2006]].<ref name="history">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201239 City of Belgrade - History (Important Years Through City History)]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
The city lies at the confluence of the [[Sava (river)|Sava]] and [[Danube]] Rivers in north central Serbia, where the [[Pannonian Plain]] meets the [[Balkan Mountains]]. The population of Belgrade, according to the Serbian census of 2002, is 1,576,124.<ref name=popis/> It is the largest city on the territory of the [[former Yugoslavia]], and by population ranks fourth in the [[South Eastern Europe#Southeastern Europe|South Eastern Europe]] behind [[Istanbul]], [[Athens]] and [[Bucharest]].


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
Belgrade has the status of a separate territorial unit in Serbia, with its own autonomous city government.<ref name="assemb">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201014 City of Belgrade - Assembly of the City of Belgrade]</ref> Its territory is divided into [[Belgrade#Municipalities|17 municipalities]], each of which has its own local council.<ref name="municip">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201906 City of Belgrade - Urban Municipalities]</ref> Belgrade spreads over 3.6% of the territory of Serbia, and 21% of the Serbian population (excluding that of the [[Kosovo]] province) lives in the city.<ref name="mdata">[http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/en/pok.php?god=2005 Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia - Municipal indicators]</ref> It is the central economic hub of Serbia, and the capital of [[Serbian culture]], [[Education in Serbia|education]] and science.


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
==Geography==
[[Image:Beograd_Sat.png|250px|thumb|left|Satellite view of Belgrade]]
Belgrade lies 116.75 [[metre|m]] above [[sea level]], at [[Geographic coordinate system|coordinates]] 44°49'14" North 20°27'44" East. The historical core of Belgrade (today's [[Kalemegdan]]) is on the right bank of [[Sava river|Sava]] and [[Danube]] rivers. However, as the city grew, it expanded over the Sava river, so that now it includes [[Novi Beograd|New Belgrade]] and [[Zemun]], both on Sava's left bank. The city is located at the [[confluence]] of the Danube and Sava rivers. The city has an urban area of 359.96 [[square kilometer|km²]], while together with its metropolitan area it covers 3222.68 km². Belgrade, like many other cities, is considered a crossroads between the [[Western world|West]] and [[the Orient]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201029 City of Belgrade - Geographical Position]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
=== Climate ===
[[Image:KlimaBG.PNG|thumb|200px|right|Monthly rainfall and temperature]]
Belgrade has a moderate [[continental climate]]. The year-round average temperature is 11.7 [[Celsius|°C]], while the hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 22.1 °C. However, there are 31 days a year when the temperature is above 30 °C, and 95 days when the temperature is above 25 °C. Belgrade receives about 700 [[millimetre|mm]] (27.56 [[inch]]es) of precipitation a year. The average annual number of sunny hours is 2,096. The sunniest months are July and August, with an average of about 10 sunny hours a day, while December and January are the darkest, with an average of 2-2.3 sunny hours a day.<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201193 City of Belgrade - Climate]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
==History==
{{seealso|Timeline of Belgrade history}}
The [[Vinča culture]] existed in or near Belgrade and dominated the Balkans about 7,000 years ago.<ref name="Vinca">source</ref> Settled in the [[3rd century BC]] by the [[Celts]] before becoming the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] settlement of [[Singidunum]], the site passed to the Eastern Roman or [[Byzantine Empire]].<ref name="ancient">source</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
===Middle Ages===
{| border=0 style="float:left" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0
|-
||[[Image:Siege_of_Nándorfehérvár.jpg|thumb|250px|left|The [[Siege of Belgrade]] in [[1456]]]]
|-
||[[Image:Fortress_Belgrade.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Belgrade in the [[16th century]]]] <!-- This image illustrates the following section, but as the preceding image is very tall, it is put here -->
|}
Singidunum experienced occupation by successive invaders of the region—[[Huns]], [[Sarmatians]], [[Ostrogoths]] and [[Eurasian Avars|Avars]]—before the arrival of the [[Slavic peoples|Slav]]s ([[Serbs]]) around 630 AD. The first record of the Slavic name ''Beograd'' dates back to 878 AD, during the rule of the [[First Bulgarian Empire]]. For about four centuries the city remained a subject of warfare between [[Byzantium]], [[Kingdom of Hungary|Royal Hungary]] and the First Bulgarian Empire.<ref name="bhistory">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201243 City of Belgrade - History (Byzantine Empire)]</ref> It finally passed to Serbian rule as a part of the [[Kingdom of Syrmia]] in 1284. The first [[List of Serbian monarchs|Serbian king]] to rule over Belgrade was [[Stefan Dragutin|Dragutin]] (1276–1282), the ruler of the Kingdom of Syrmia, who received it as a gift from his [[father-in-law]], the Hungarian king [[Ladislaus IV of Hungary|Ladislav IV]].<ref name="MSH">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201247 City of Belgrade - History (Medieval Serbian Belgrade)]</ref>
{{Quote_box|
width=140px
|align=right
|quote="''I cometh and found the noblest burgh from ancient times, the grand town of Belgrade, by sorry fate destroyed and nearly void. Having rebuilt it, I consecrated it to the Holy Mother of God".''
|source= [[Despot]] [[Stefan Lazarević]] on Belgrade in 1420 A.D.
|}}
Following terrible losses at the [[Battle of Kosovo]] of 1389, the [[Serbian Empire]] began to crumble, the south being conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046112/Battle-of-Kosovo Encyclopaedia Britannica: Battle of Kosovo]</ref> However, the north resisted in the form of the [[Serbian Despotate]], which had Belgrade as its capital. The city flourished under [[Despot]] [[Stefan Lazarević]], son of the famous Serbian ruler [[Prince Lazar|Lazar Hrebljanović]]. Its ancient walls were refortified, along with its castles, harbours and churches, which helped the Despotate to avoid surrender to the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]] for almost 70 years. At that time Belgrade became a haven for many Balkan peoples escaping Ottoman control. It is thought that the city had a population of some 40-50,000 at this time. During the reign of [[George, Prince of Rascia|Đurađ Branković]], most of the Serbian Despotate fell to the Ottomans, but Belgrade itself invited in [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian kings]] for protection.<ref name="MSH">source</ref> The Ottomans, however, wanted to conquer Belgrade as it presented an obstacle to their further advance into [[central Europe]]. They attacked in 1456, leading to the famous [[Siege of Belgrade]] where the [[Christendom|Christian]] army under [[John Hunyadi]] successfully defended the city from the Ottomans.<ref>[http://www.historynet.com/magazines/military_history/3030796.html Ottoman-Hungarian Wars: Siege of Belgrade in 1456 by Tom R. Kovach (Historynet.com)]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
===Turkish conquest===
Under [[Suleyman the Magnificent]], on [[28 August]] [[1521]], the fort was captured by the [[Ottoman Empire]]. The city was largely razed to the ground by the conquering Ottomans. For the next 150 years or so it was a peaceful town, and the seat of the district ([[sanjak]]). It attracted new traders and inhabitants - [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], [[Armenians]], [[Greeks]], [[Ragusa]]n traders, and others. It is thought that the city's population was around the 100,000 mark in the [[17th century]]. It became more of an [[Oriental]] town, with [[Ottoman architecture]] and many new [[mosque]]s.<ref name="imperialrule">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201251 City of Belgrade - History (Turkish and Austrian Rule)]</ref> It was affected by a major Serb rebellion in [[1594]] (the [[Banat Uprising]]), which was crushed by the Turks, who burned churches and the relics (mortal remains) of [[Saint Sava]] on the [[Vračar plateau]], an event the [[Temple of Saint Sava]] was built to commemorate in more recent times.<ref>[http://www.mitropolija.cg.yu/dvavoda/knjige/aradovic-hram_l.html Духовни смисао храма Светог Саве на Врачару - Амфилохије Радовић, Епископ банатски]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
Thrice occupied by [[Habsburg Monarchy|Austria]] (1688-1690, 1717-1739, 1789-1791), it was recaptured and substantially razed each time by the Ottomans.<ref name="imperialrule">src</ref> During this period, the city was affected by the two [[Great Serbian Migrations]], in which hundreds of thousands of Serbs, led by their [[Patriarch of Serbia|patriarchs]], retreated together with the Austrians into the Habsburg Empire in 1690 and 1737-39, settling in today's [[Vojvodina]] and [[Slavonia]].<ref>[http://www.suc.org/culture/library/Oci/tajne-poruke-svetoga-save-16-03-03.html Српски конгрес уједињења - Тајне поруке Светог Саве]</ref> During the [[First Serbian Uprising]] the Serbian rebels held the city from [[January 8]] [[1806]] to [[1813]], when it was retaken by the Ottomans.<ref name="bglib">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201255 City of Belgrade - History (Liberation of Belgrade)]</ref> In [[1817]] it became the capital of the autonomous [[Principality of Serbia]] (except in the period from [[1818]]–[[1841]], when [[Kragujevac]] was the country's capital).<ref>[http://www.kragujevac.org.yu/upoznajte_grad/istorija.htm Град Крагујевац - Историја (Прва престоница модерне Србије)]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
===After independence===
[[Image:Knez stara.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Knez Mihailova street at the beginning of the 20th century]]
The capital was moved from [[Kragujevac]] to Belgrade by [[Mihailo Obrenović III, Prince of Serbia|Prince Mihailo Obrenović]], following the departure of the town's Turkish garrison in 1867. With Serbia's full independence in 1878 and its transformation into the [[Kingdom of Serbia]] in 1882, Belgrade once again became a key city in the Balkans, developing rapidly.<ref name="bglib">src</ref><ref name="20c">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201259 City of Belgrade - History (The Capital of Serbia and Yugoslavia)]</ref> Nevertheless, despite the opening of a railway to [[Niš]], Serbia's second city, conditions in Serbia as a whole remained those of an overwhelmingly agrarian country, and in 1900 the capital had only 69,100 inhabitants.<ref>[http://www.library.uu.nl/wesp/populstat/Europe/yugoslft.htm Populstat - Yugoslav Federation]</ref> On the other hand, by 1905 the population had grown to more than 80,000, and by the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914, it had surpassed the 100,000 mark, not counting [[Zemun]] which then belonged to [[Austria-Hungary]].<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02407a.htm Catholic Encyclopaedia - Belgrade and Smederevo]</ref><ref name="stan">[http://nainfo.nbs.bg.ac.yu/sfoa/clanak.php?issn=0350-0373&je=sr&prv=1&zad=4&id=0350-03730101087P&kw=Dragan+petrovic+beograd Индустрија и урбани развој Београда - Драган Петровић (Индустрија, 2001, vol. 21, No. 1-4, pp. 87-94)]</ref>
After the occupation by Austro-Hungarian and [[German Empire|German]] troops in 1915-1918 during the First World War, Belgrade experienced faster growth and significant modernisation as the capital of the new [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]] during the [[1920s]] and [[1930s]], growing in population to 239,000 by 1931 with the incorporation of the western suburb of Zemun, formerly on the Austro-Hungarian bank of the river. By 1940, the population had reached about 320,000. The population growth rate between 1921 and 1948 averaged 4.08% a year.<ref name="stan">src</ref>
[[Image:Terazije 1928.jpg|left|250px|thumb|[[Terazije|Terazije square]] in 1928]]
On [[March 25]] [[1941]], the government signed the [[Tripartite Pact]], joining the [[Axis powers of World War II|Axis powers]] in an effort to stay out of the [[Second World War]]. This was immediately followed by mass protests in Belgrade and a military [[coup d'état]]. Consequently, the city was [[Bombing of Belgrade in World War II#German bombing|heavily bombed]] by the [[Luftwaffe]] on [[April 6]]-[[April 7|7]], [[1941]], killing thousands of people. [[Yugoslavia]] was [[Invasion of Yugoslavia|invaded]] by [[Nazi Germany|German]], [[Italian fascism|Italian]], [[Hungary between the two world wars|Hungarian]] and [[Military history of Bulgaria during World War II|Bulgarian]] forces and the western suburbs were incorporated into a Nazi [[puppet state]], the [[Independent State of Croatia]]. [[Bombing of Belgrade in World War II#Allied bombing|The city was bombed]] by the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] as well, on [[April 16]]-[[April 17|17]] [[1944]]. Both bombings happened to fall on [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] [[Easter#Eastern Christianity 2|Easter]]. Most of the city remained under German occupation until [[October 20]] [[1944]], when it was liberated by communist [[Partisans (Yugoslavia)|Yugoslav Partisans]] and the [[Red Army]]. In the post-war period Belgrade grew rapidly as the capital of the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|renewed Yugoslavia]], developing as a major industrial centre.<ref name="20c">src</ref>
In March 1972, Belgrade was at the centre of [[1972 outbreak of smallpox in Yugoslavia|the last major outbreak of smallpox in Europe]]. The epidemic, which was contained with enforced quarantine and mass vaccination, was over by late May.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/news/specials/response/anthrax/features/2001/oct/011023.quarantine.html Bioterrorism: Civil Liberties Under Quarantine]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
===Recent history===
[[Image:Belgrade Kalemegdan&Pobednik.JPG|250px|thumb|right|[[Pobednik|The Victor]], a symbol of Belgrade]]
On [[March 9]] [[1991]], [[March 9th Protest|massive demonstrations]] led by [[Vuk Drašković]] were held against [[Slobodan Milošević]] in the city.<ref>[http://www.mediaclub.cg.yu/zanimljivi/zanimljivi03-00/10.htm Датум за незаборав и опемену]</ref> Two people &ndash; 17-year-old high school student Branivoje Milinović and policeman Nedeljko Kosović &ndash; were killed, 203 people were injured, and 108 were arrested in the protests.<ref>[http://www.vreme.com/arhiva_html/450/2.html Србија на митинзима (1990. - 1999.]</ref> According to various media outlets, there were between 100,000 and 150,000 people on the streets that day. Later that day, tanks were deployed onto the streets in order to restore order.<ref>[http://www.b92.net/info/emisije/poligraf.php?nav_id=191119&yyyy=2006&mm=03 9. марта Милошевић није могао пасти]</ref><ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972607-1,00.html Yugoslavia: Mass bedlam in Belgrade]: ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]''</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
After alleged electoral fraud at local elections, protests were held in Belgrade from November 1996 to February 1997 against the government of Slobodan Milošević.<ref name="twelveyears">[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201267 City of Belgrade - History (Disintegration Years 1988-2000)]</ref> These protests brought [[Zoran Đinđić]] to power as the first democratically elected [[mayor of Belgrade]] in the post-communist period.


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
The [[Operation Allied Force|NATO bombing]] caused substantial damage to the city during the [[Kosovo War]] in 1999. Among the sites bombed were the buildings of several ministries, the RTS ([[Radio Television of Serbia]]) building, which [[NATO bombing of RTS|killed 16 technicians]], several hospitals, the Jugoslavija Hotel, the [[Ušće Tower|Central Committee building]], the [[Avala TV Tower]], and the [[NATO Bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade|Chinese embassy]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201271 City of Belgrade - NATO bombing]</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
After elections in 2000, Belgrade was the site of major demonstrations with over half a million people on the streets (800,000 by police estimates, over 1,000,000 according to [[Misha Glenny]]) which caused the [[5th October Overthrow|ousting of president Milošević]].<ref>Антонић, Слободан. [http://www.nspm.org.yu/Tekstovi/txt%20sr%20p%20m%20-%20s%20antonic.htm "Србија после Милошевића"]. <u>Нова спрска политичка мисао</u>. 15 Mar. 2001</ref><ref>Glenny, Misha. [http://www.glypx.com/BalkanWitness/glenny3.htm Can Serbia's new leaders overcome the legacy of Slobodan Milosevic?]. ''[[The New Yorker]]'', 30 Oct, 2000</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
==Government & politics==
[[Image:Belgrade Old Court 1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The building of the [[Assembly of the City of Belgrade]], known as the [[Old Palace (Belgrade)|Old Palace]]]]
Belgrade has the status of a separate territorial unit in Serbia, with its own autonomous city government.<ref name="assemb">src</ref> The current [[mayor of Belgrade]] is [[Nenad Bogdanović]], a member of the [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|Democratic Party]]. He was elected in [[2004]]. The first [[democracy|democratically]] elected mayor of Belgrade in modern times was [[Zoran Đinđić|Dr. Zoran Đinđić]], elected in [[1996]]. Its territory is divided into [[Belgrade#Municipalities|17 municipalities]], each of which has its own local council.<ref name="municip">src</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
[[Image:Belgrade municipalities03.png|250px|right|thumb|Map of the municipalities of Belgrade (click to enlarge)]]
===Municipalities===
{{seealso|Subdivisions of Belgrade|List of Belgrade neighborhoods and suburbs}}
The city is divided into 17 municipalities, ten with "urban" status, and seven with "suburban" status. The suburban municipalities have slightly expanded municipal powers, mainly with regard to construction, town planning and public utility provision.<ref name="municip">src</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
Most of the municipalities are situated on the southern side of the rivers [[Danube]] and [[Sava]], in the [[Šumadija]] region. Three municipalities (Zemun, Novi Beograd, and Surčin) are situated on the northern side of the river Sava, in the [[Syrmia]] region, while the municipality of Palilula is situated on the both banks of the river Danube, in the Šumadija and [[Banat]] regions.


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
{| border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 10px 0 10px 25px; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #AAA solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; float: center;"
|-
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Name
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Area ([[Square kilometre|km²]])
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Population (1991)
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Population (2002)
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Urban/Suburban
|-
| [[Barajevo]] || 213 || 20,846 || 24,641 || Suburban
|-
| [[Čukarica]] || 156 || 150,257 || 168,508 || Urban
|-
| [[Grocka]] || 289 || 65,735 || 75,466 || Suburban
|-
| [[Lazarevac]] || 384 || 57,848 || 58,511 || Suburban
|-
| [[Mladenovac]] || 339 || 54,517 || 52,490 || Suburban
|-
| [[Novi Beograd]] || 41 || 218,633 || 217,773 || Urban
|-
| [[Obrenovac]] || 411 || 67,654 || 70,975 || Suburban
|-
| [[Palilula (Belgrade)|Palilula]] || 451 || 150,208 || 155,902 || Urban
|-
| [[Rakovica, Belgrade|Rakovica]] || 31 || 96,300 || 99,000 || Urban
|-
| [[Savski Venac]] || 14 || 45,961 || 42,505 || Urban
|-
| [[Sopot, Serbia|Sopot]] || 271 || 19,977 || 20,390 || Suburban
|-
| [[Stari Grad, Belgrade|Stari Grad]] || 5 || 68,552 || 55,543 || Urban
|-
| [[Surčin]] || colspan ="3" | <small>Part of Zemun municipality until 2004.</small> || Suburban
|-
| [[Voždovac]] || 148 || 156,373 || 151,768 || Urban
|-
| [[Vračar]] || 3 || 67,438 || 58,386 || Urban
|-
| [[Zemun]] || 438 || 176,158 || 191,645 || Urban
|-
| [[Zvezdara]] || 32 || 135,694 || 132,621 || Urban
|-
| style="background: #E9E9E9;" | TOTAL || style="background: #E9E9E9;" | 3227 || style="background: #E9E9E9;" | 1,552,151 || style="background: #E9E9E9;" | 1,576,124 || style="background: #E9E9E9;" | n/a
|-
| colspan="5" | <small>Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia</small><ref name="mdata">src</ref>
|}


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
== Demographics ==
{{main|Demographics of Belgrade}}
{{seealso|Historical population of Belgrade}}
Belgrade has a population of 1,576,124 as recorded in the 2002 Serbian census. The main ethnic groups were [[Serbs]] (1,417,187), [[Yugoslavs]] (22,161), [[Montenegrins]] (21,190), [[Roma people|Roma]] (19,191), [[Croats]] (10,381), [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonians]] (8,372), and [[Muslims by nationality]] (4,617).<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201201 City of Belgrade - Facts (Population)]</ref>
[[Image:Saint Sava Temple.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The [[Temple of Saint Sava]], the largest [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serb Orthodox]] place of worship in the world]]
Although there are several historic religious communities in Belgrade, the religious makeup of the city is relatively homogenous. The [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox]] community is by far the largest, with 1,429,170 adherents. There are also 20,366 [[Islam|Muslims]] and 16,305 [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]]. There used to be a significant [[Jew]]ish [[Jews in Serbia|community]], but following the [[History of Serbia#Serbia in World War II|Nazi occupation]], and many Jews' subsequent emigration to [[Israel]], their numbers have fallen to a mere 415. There are also 3,796 [[Protestantism|Protestants]] in the city.<ref>[http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/Zip/VJN3.pdf "Књиге резултата Пописа 2002.": "Књига 3: Вероисповест, матерњи језик и национална или етничка припадност према старости и полу - подаци по општинама"], page 12. <u>Републички завод за статистику Србије</u>, 2003.</ref>


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
In addition to its native born population, Belgrade is home to many Serbs from all over the former Yugoslavia, who either came seeking a better, or fled as refugees from war and ethnic cleansing.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/balkans/stories/belgrade062299.htm Refugee Serbs Assail Belgrade Government]: ''[[The Washington Post]]'', Tuesday, June 22, 1999.</ref> Unofficially - taking into account the large number of [[Serbs|Serb]] refugees from [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]] and displaced persons from the province of [[Kosovo]], students, and people counted in censuses in their hometowns - the population may surpass 2 million. Many non-Serbs also live in Belgrade, largely as a result of Belgrade having been the capital of the multi-ethnic Yugoslavia.<ref name=popis/> There are an estimated several thousand [[Han Chinese|Chinese]] in Belgrade, who began immigrating in the [[1990s|mid-1990s]]. [[Blok 70]] in [[Novi Beograd|New Belgrade]] is known to Belgraders as the Chinese quarter.<ref>[http://www.kurir-info.co.yu/Arhiva/2005/februar/19-20/B-01-19022005.shtml Кинези Марко, Милош и Ана!], Курир ([[Kurir]]), 19-20 February 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.vreme.com/arhiva_html/471/10.html Кинеска четврт у Блоку 70], Време ([[Vreme]]) No. 471, 15 January 2000</ref> Also, many [[Arabs]] live in Belgrade. Most of these Arabs arrived in Belgrade to pursue their studies during the 1970s and 1980s, and have remained and founded families in the city.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2005/12/07/int17.htm A unique friendship club in Belgrade], Dawn - International, December 7</ref><ref>[http://www.jordanembassyus.org/041199003.htm Government, public diverge in assessment of Kosovo crisis] ''[[Jordan Times]]'', April 11 1999</ref> Most come from [[Syria]], [[Jordan]] and [[Iraq]].


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
== Economy ==
{{main|Economy of Belgrade}}
[[Image:IM000487 resize.JPG|thumb|250px|The building of the [[National Bank of Serbia]], near [[Slavija (Belgrade)|Slavija Square]]]]
Belgrade is the most [[Economy of Serbia|economically developed]] part of Serbia. More than 30% of Serbia's GDP is generated by the city, which also has more than 30% of Serbia's employed population.<ref>[http://www.kombeg.org.yu/privredabg/privreda.htm Привредна Комора Београда - Привреда Беоргада]</ref> The city's economy has been growing strongly since [[2000]]. During the 1990s the city was severely affected, like the rest of Serbia, by an internationally imposed trade embargo. The hyperinflation of the [[Yugoslav dinar]], the highest ever recorded in the world, also decimated the city's economy. The [[National Bank of Serbia]] is located in the city. Major companies based in Belgrade include [[Jat Airways]], [[Telekom Srbija]], [[Telenor Serbia]], [[Delta Holding]], and many others.


[[Image:Rodsstewart.jpg|thumb|400px|ROD STEWART HAS FUNNY HAIR!! WOW WE WA!]]
As of October [[2006]], the average [[Gross income|gross salary]] in Belgrade amounted to 41,006 [[Serbian dinar]]s (about 530 [[euro]]s, 675 [[United States dollar|US dollars]], or 355 [[Pound sterling|British pounds]]) the highest of any district in Serbia. The average [[Net pay|net salary]] was 28,090 Serbian dinars (about 365 euros, 465 US dollars, or 245 British pounds).<ref>[http://webrzs.statserb.sr.gov.yu/axd/en/dokumenti/zp14102006.pdf Republic of Serbia - Statistical Office of the Republic: Salaries and wages per employee, October 2006]</ref>

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Belgrade}}
[[Image:Serbia Beograd SANU - Feb 2006.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The building of the [[Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts]], erected in 1922]]<!--Not a great picture, but OK for now-->
Belgrade hosts many annual cultural events, including [[FEST (Belgrade)|FEST]] (Belgrade Film Festival), [[BITEF]] (Belgrade Theatre Festival), [[BELEF]] (Belgrade Summer Festival), [[BEMUS]] (Belgrade Music Festival), [[Belgrade Book Fair]], and the [[Belgrade Beer Festival]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201299 City of Belgrade - Culture and Art (Cultural Events)]</ref> The [[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel prize winning]] author [[Ivo Andrić]] wrote his most famous work, [[The Bridge on the Drina]], in Belgrade.<ref>[http://www.ivoandric.org.yu/html/biografija.html Задужбина Иве Андрића - Биографија Иве Андрића]</ref> Other prominent Belgrade authors include [[Branislav Nušić]], [[Miloš Crnjanski]], [[Borislav Pekić]], [[Milorad Pavić]] and [[Meša Selimović]].<ref>[http://www.rastko.org.yu/knjizevnost/nauka_knjiz/pekic-biograf.html Borislav Pekić - Biografija]</ref><ref>[http://www.znanje.org/i/i21/01iv07/01iv0723/s1.htm Miloš Crnjanski - Biografija]</ref><ref>[http://www.xs4all.nl/~eteia/kitabhana/Selimovic_Mehmed_Mesa/Biografija.html Meša Selimović - Biografija]</ref> Most of [[Serbian cinema#Serbian theatre and cinema|Serbia's film industry]] is based in Belgrade, and one of the most notable films to be made there was [[1995 in film|1995]]'s [[Palme d'Or]] winning ''[[Underground (film)|Underground]]'', directed by [[Emir Kusturica]]. The city was one of the main centres of the [[Yugoslav New Wave]] in the 1970s: [[VIS Idoli]], [[Ekatarina Velika]] and [[Šarlo Akrobata]] were all from Belgrade. Other notable Belgrade rock acts include [[Riblja Čorba]], [[Bajaga i Instruktori]] and others.<ref>[http://www.balkanmedia.com/magazin/hall/corba/biografija2.shtml Balkanmedia: Bora Čorba Biografija]</ref> During the 1990s the city was the main centre (in the [[former Yugoslavia]]) of a musical style known as [[turbofolk]]. Today, it is the centre of the [[Serbian hip hop]] scene, with acts such as [[Beogradski Sindikat]], [[Škabo]], [[Marčelo]], and most of the [[Bassivity|Bassivity Music]] stable hailing from or living in the city.<ref>[http://www.popboks.com/albumi/beogradskisindikat.shtml Popoboks - Beogradski Sindikat: ''Svi Zajedno'']</ref><ref>[http://www.balkanmedia.com/m2/doc/3184-1.shtml Balkanmedia: Liričar među reperima]</ref> There are many theatres, the most prominent of which are the [[National Theatre in Belgrade|National Theatre]], the [[Yugoslav Theatre of Drama]], the [[Zvezdara Theatre]], and [[Atelje 212]]. The [[Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts]] is also based in Belgrade, as is the [[National Library of Serbia]].

===Museums===
{{seealso|List of museums in Belgrade}}
[[Image:Miroslavs Gospel.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Miroslav's Gospel]], a medieval manuscript held by the [[National Museum of Serbia|National Museum]]]]
The most prominent museum in Belgrade is the [[National Museum of Serbia|National Museum]], founded in [[1844]], which houses a collection of more than 400,000 exhibits - including many foreign masterpieces. The famous [[Miroslav's Gospel|Miroslavljevo Jevanđelje]] (Miroslav's Gospel) is in the museum's collection.<ref>[http://www.narodnimuzej.org.yu/code/navigate.php?Id=2 Народни Музеј у Београду - О Музеју]</ref> The [[Military Museum (Belgrade)|Military Museum]] is popular with foreign tourists, in part as it houses parts of a [[F-117]] stealth aircraft shot down by Yugoslav forces, in addition to a wide range of more than 25,000 military exhibits dating as far back as to the [[Roman Empire|Roman period]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201283 City of Belgrade - Museums 4]</ref><ref>[http://www.timeout.com/travel/belgrade/intro.html TimeOut - Introduction to Belgrade]</ref> A similar museum is the [[Museum of Yugoslav Aviation]] which has more than 200 aircraft, of which about 50 are on display. A few of the aircraft the museum possesses are the only surviving examples of their type, such as the [[Fiat G.50]]. This musuem also displays parts of shot down [[United States|US]] and [[NATO]] aircraft.<ref>[http://www.vazduhoplovnivodic.co.yu/sr/muzej_jv.htm Ваздухопловни водич - Музеј југословенског ваздухопловства]</ref> The [[Ethnographic Museum (Belgrade)|Ethnographic Museum]], established in [[1901]], contains more than 150,000 items showcasing the rural and urban culture of the Balkans, particularly the countries of the [[former Yugoslavia]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201167 City of Belgrade - Museums 3]</ref> The [[Museum of Modern Art (Belgrade)|Museum of Modern Art]] has a collection of around 8,540 works of art produced in [[Yugoslavia]] since [[1900]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201055 City of Belgrade - Museums 2]</ref> The [[Nikola Tesla Museum]], founded in [[1952]], preserves the personal items of [[Nikola Tesla]], the inventor after whom the [[Tesla (unit)|Tesla unit]] was named. It holds around 160,000 original documents and around 5,700 other items.<ref>[http://www.tesla-museum.org/meni_en/nt.php?link=muzej/m&opc=sub2 Nikola Tesla Museum - About the museum]</ref> The last of the major Belgrade museums is the [[Museum of Vuk and Dositej]], which showcases the lives, work and legacy of [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]] and [[Dositej Obradović]], the 19th-century reformer of the Serbian literary language and the first Serbian Minister of Education respectively.<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201051 City of Belgrade - Museums 1]</ref> One of the more unusual museums in Belgrade is the [[Museum of African Art, Serbia|Museum of African Art]], founded in the days of socialist solidarity with the undeveloped nations of the [[Third World]].

===Education===
{{seealso|List of educational institutions in Belgrade}}
Belgrade has two state universities and several private institutions for higher education. [[Belgrade University]] was founded in [[1808]] as a Great Academy.<ref>[http://www.ius.bg.ac.yu/istorijat/ Универзитет у Београду - Правни факултет (Историјат)]</ref> It is one of the oldest educational institutions in the country (the oldest higher-education facility - the Teacher's College in [[Subotica]] - dates back to [[1689]]). More than 70,000 students study at Belgrade University.<ref>[http://www.bg.ac.yu/pdf/ukupno.pdf Универзитет у Београду - Број Студената]</ref> There are 195 primary (elementary) schools and 85 secondary schools. Of the primary schools, there are 162 regular, 14 special, 15 art and 4 adult schools. The secondary school system consists of 51 vocational schools, 21 gymnasiums, 8 art schools and 5 special schools. There are 230,000 enrolled pupils managed by 22,000 employees in over 500 buildings that cover around 1,100,000 [[Square metre|m²]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201008 City of Belgrade - Education and Science]</ref>

===Nightlife===
[[Image:Beogradjanka01.JPG|right|thumb|250px|The [[Beograđanka]]]]
Belgrade has a reputation for offering a vibrant nightlife, and many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. The most recognizable nightlife feature of Belgrade are the barges (''splavovi'') spread along the banks of the Sava and Danube Rivers.<ref>"[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/travel/story/0,6903,1015399,00.html ''The Observer'': "Why I love battered Belgrade"]</ref><ref>[http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/travel/16belgrade.html?ei=5070&en=7609599255a87c01&ex=1161662400&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1161525814-hyzmwSBEex5SGL+lJDVm2w Belgrade Rocks]: ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref><ref>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2129528,00.html Belgrade's Nightlife Floats on the Danube]: ''[[Deutsche Welle]]''</ref>

Weekend visitors—particularly from [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia-Herzegovina]], [[Croatia]] and [[Slovenia]]—consider Belgrade more of a metropolis than the capitals of their own countries, due to what they see as the friendly atmosphere, great clubs and bars, cheap drinks, the lack of language difficulties, and the lack of restrictive night life regulation.<ref name="slovenci">[http://www.b92.net/srbija2020/info.php?yyyy=2006&mm=03&nav_category=182&nav_id=192870&fs=1 B92: Slovenci dolaze u “grad koji ne spava”]</ref><ref name="hrvati">[http://www.vecernji-list.hr/newsroom/news/international/453911/print.do;jsessionid=889A73725B957E5D93A2063D490A6E5F.2 Večernji list: U Beograd na vikend-zabavu]</ref>

Famous spots for the followers of what is often termed alternative or non-mainstream music and cultural trends can enjoy famous and very well established clubs named Akademija and the famed KST (''Klub studenata tehnike'') located in the basement of the [[University of Belgrade]]'s Faculty of Electrical Engineering.<ref>[http://www.akademija.net/remote/?call=2&lg=1 Klub Akademija - O Akademiji]</ref><ref>[http://www.kst.org.yu/ Klub Studenata Tehnike - O nama]</ref> One of the most famous sites for alternative cultural happenings in the city is the SKC (Student Cultural Centre), located right across from Belgrade's highrise landmark, the [[Beograđanka]]. Concerts featuring famous local and foreign bands are often held at the centre. SKC is also the site of various art exhibitions, as well as public debates and discussions.<ref>[http://www.skc.org.yu/info.php?lang=1 SKC - Info]</ref>

Those preferring a more traditional Serbian nightlife experience accompanied by traditional music known as ''[[Starogradska]]'' (roughly translated as ''Old Town Music''), typical of northern Serbia's urban environments, can opt for a night out at [[Skadarlija]], the city's old [[Bohemianism|bohemian]] neighbourhood where the poets and artists of Belgrade gathered in the [[19th century]] and early [[20th century]]. Skadar Street (the centre of '''''Skadar'''lija'') and the surrounding neighbourhood are lined with some of Belgrade's best and oldest traditional restaurants, which date back to that period.<ref>[http://www.tob.co.yu/english/zasto_bg/bg_amb/skadarlija/index.html Tourist Organisation of Belgrade - Skadarlija]</ref> At one end of the neighbourhood stands Belgrade's oldest beer brewery founded in the first half of the 19th century.<ref>[http://www.bip.co.yu/istorija.htm BiP - Istorijat]</ref>

Belgrade also has a small [[Gay community|gay scene]] where [[LGBT]] ([[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], [[transgender]]) people enjoy socializing. The city has a few permanent gay clubs, as well as a few gay and gay-friendly cafés, in the centre of the city. Additionally, LGBT parties are hosted monthly, promoted individually through one of Serbia's on-line LGBT portals, Gay Serbia.<ref>[http://www.gay-serbia.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=55 Gay Serbia - Scena]</ref> Intolerance towards sexual minorities is still somewhat common in Belgrade and Serbia as a whole.<ref>[http://www.roeda.at/on-going/pdf/10.pdf Roeda.at - Interview with Dušan Maljković]</ref>

===Sport===
{{see also|List of sporting events in Belgrade}}
[[Image:Belgrade Arena north.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[Belgrade Arena]]]]

There are around a thousand sports facilities in Belgrade, many of which are capable of serving all levels of sporting events.<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201508 City of Belgrade - Sport and Recreation]</ref> Belgrade has hosted several relatively major sporting events recently, including [[Eurobasket 2005]], the [[2005 European Volleyball Championship]], and the [[2006 European Waterpolo Championship]]. Belgrade will be the host city of the [[Universiade|2009 Summer Universiade]], chosen over the cities of [[Monterrey]] and [[Poznań]].<ref>[http://www.fisu.net/site/page_1068.php FISU - Universiade 2009 (Belgrade)]</ref>

The city launched two unsuccessful candidate bids to organize the [[Summer Olympic Games]]: for the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] Belgrade was eliminated in the third round of [[International Olympic Committee]] voting, with the games going to Barcelona. The [[1996 Summer Olympics]] ultimately went to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]].<ref>[http://www.okscg.org.yu/s101e.htm Olympic Committee of Serbia - History of the Olympic Committee of Serbia]</ref><ref>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1996 Official Website of the Olympic Movement (Atlanta 1996)]</ref>

The city is home to Serbia's two biggest and most successful [[Football (soccer)|football]] clubs, [[Red Star Belgrade]] and [[FK Partizan]], as well as a few other first league clubs. The two major stadiums in Belgrade are the ''Marakana'' ([[Red Star Stadium]]) and the [[Partizan Stadium]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201754 City of Belgrade - Sport and Recreation (Stadiums)]</ref> [[Belgrade Arena]] is used for basketball matches, along with [[Pionir Hall]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201758 City of Belgrade - Sport and Recreation (Sport Centers and Halls)]</ref><ref>[http://www.tasmajdan.co.yu/hala_pionir_aktivnosti.htm Tašmajdan - Hala Pionir]</ref>, while the [[Tašmajdan Sports Centre]] is used for [[water polo]] matches.

[[Ada Ciganlija]] is a former island on the [[Sava River|Sava river]], and Belgrade's biggest sports and recreational complex. Today it is connected with the shore, creating an artificial lake on the river. It is the most popular destination for Belgraders during the city's hot summers. There are 7 kilometres of long beaches and sports facilities for various sports including [[golf]], [[Rugby union|rugby]], [[football (soccer)|football]], [[basketball]], [[volleyball]], [[baseball]], and [[tennis]].<ref>[http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/sport_tereni.htm Ада Циганлија - Спортски терени]</ref> Extreme sports are available, like [[bungee jumping]], [[water skiing]] and [[paintball]]ing.<ref>[http://www.tob.co.yu/english/zasto_bg/zeleni_bg/ada/index.html Tourism Ogranisation of Belgrade - Ada Ciganlija]</ref> There are numerous tracks on the island, where it is possible to ride a bike, go for a walk or go jogging.<ref>[http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/o_adi.htm Ада Циганлија - О Ади]</ref><ref>[http://www.adaciganlija.co.yu/s_tereni/kupaliste.htm Ада Циганлија - Купалиште]</ref>

[[Image:Ruski car.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Knez Mihailova|Prince Michael Street]]. Courtesy of [http://zivotic.com/photo/ Zoran Zivotic]&nbsp;]]

===Tourism===
Since [[2000]], in line with country's revival of diplomatic relations with [[Western Europe]] and the [[United States|US]], Belgrade has been seeing a return of foreign holidaymakers absent since [[Yugoslav Wars|the wars]] of the 1990s. The [[Tourist Organisation of Belgrade]] (TOB) is the official organisation which promotes the city as a tourist destination .

The historic areas and buildings of Belgrade are among the city's premier attractions. They include [[Skadarlija]], the [[National Museum of Serbia|National Museum]] and adjacent [[National Theatre in Belgrade|National Theatre]], [[Zemun]], [[Nikola Pašić Square]], [[Terazije]], [[Students' Square (Belgrade)|Students' Square]], the [[Kalemegdan|Kalemegdan Fortress]], [[Knez Mihailova|Prince Michael Street]], the [[Parliament of Serbia and Montenegro|Federal Parliament]], the [[Temple of Saint Sava]], and the [[The Old Palace|Old Palace]]. On top of this, there are many parks, monuments, museums, cafés, restaurants and shops; both sides of the river Sava, not to mention views of the city from the [[Monument to the Unknown Hero|Avala Monument]], on a hilltop overlooking the city. [[Josip Broz Tito]]'s mausoleum, called [[Kuća Cveća]] (''The House of Flowers''), and the nearby [[Topčider]] and [[Košutnjak]] parks are also popular, especially among visitors from the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|former Yugoslavia]].

In recent years growing numbers of young people, especially from [[Croatia]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Bosnia-Herzegovina]], have visited Belgrade to enjoy the city's [[nightlife (activity)|nightlife]].<ref name="slovenci">source</ref><ref name="hrvati">source</ref>

===Media===
{{seealso|List of media organisations in Belgrade}}
Belgrade is the most important media hub in Serbia. The city is home to the main headquarters of the national broadcaster [[Radio Television of Serbia|Radio Television Serbia - RTS]], which is currently in the process of being transformed into a public service broadcaster.<ref>[http://www.rts.co.yu/jedna_vest.asp?belong=&IDNews=125391 РТС: Само РТС може да буде јавни сервис]</ref> The RTS music publishing operation is also based in Belgrade.<ref>[http://www.pgp-rts.co.yu/info/index.html ПГП - РТС (Прича о нама])</ref> The most popular commercial broadcaster is [[RTV Pink]], a Serbian media multinational, known for its popular entertainment programs, which are considered by some to be sensationalist and of low quality. The most popular mainstream "alternative" broadcaster is [[B92]], another media company, which has its own TV station, radio station, and music and book publishing arms, as well as the most popular website on the Serbian internet.<ref>[http://www.cjr.org/issues/2005/1/manasek-paradox.asp The Paradox of Pink]</ref><ref>[http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=09&dd=01&nav_category=15&nav_id=210237&fs=1 B92 na 8.598. mestu na svetu]</ref> Other TV stations broadcasting from Belgrade include [[TV Košava|Košava]], [[TV Avala|Avala]], and others which only cover the greater Belgrade municipal area, such as [[Studio B]] and [[TV Politika]]. Numerous specialised channels are also available: SOS (sport), Metropolis (music), Art TV (art), Cinemania (film), while Happy TV (children's programs).

High-circulation daily newspapers published in Belgrade include ''[[Politika]]'', ''[[Večernje novosti]]'', ''[[Blic (newspaper)|Blic]]'', ''[[Glas javnosti]]'', and ''[[Sportski žurnal]]''. Other dailies published in the city are ''[[Press (newspaper)|Press]]'', ''[[Borba (newspaper)|Borba]]'', and ''[[Kurir]]''. A new free distribution daily, ''[[24 sata (Serbia)|24 sata]]'', was founded in the autumn of 2006. The two most popular Serbian weekly newsmagazines, ''[[NIN (magazine)|NIN]]'' & ''[[Vreme]]'', are published in Belgrade.

===Architecture===
[[Image:ParlamentBelgrad.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The [[Parliament of Serbia]] and the headquarters of [[Telekom Srbija]]]]

{{seealso|Religious architecture in Belgrade|Architectural projects under construction in Belgrade|List of notable buildings in Belgrade|List of notable streets and squares in Belgrade}}

Various parts of Belgrade have wildly varying [[architecture]], from the centre of [[Zemun]], which is that typical of a [[Central Europe]]an town, from the few still remaining Turkish-styled buildings located throughout the city, to the more modern architecture and spacious layout of [[Novi Beograd|New Belgrade]]. The 19th century architecture of much of the city was heavily influenced by architectural trends in the then neighbouring empire of [[Austria-Hungary]]. Under [[communism]], much housing was built quickly and cheaply to house the huge influx of people from the countryside following the Second World War, resulting in the [[brutalist architecture]] of the [[blokovi]] (blocks) of New Belgrade.

==Transportation==
{{main|Transportation in Belgrade}}
[[Image:New Railway Bridge 1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[New Railway Bridge]] in the night]]
Belgrade's public transport system is based on buses (112 lines), [[tram]]s (12 lines), and [[trolleybus]]es (8 lines).<ref>[http://www.gsp.co.yu/statistika1.htm ГСП "Београд" - Статистика]</ref> The system is mostly run by the City Traffic Company ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]: ''Градско Саобраћајно Предузеће'' or ''Gradsko Saobraćajno Preduzeće'', ''ГСП'' or ''GSP''), in cooperation with some private companies on various bus routes. Belgrade also has a [[regional rail|commuter railway]] network, [[Beovoz]], run by the [[Serbian Railways]].<ref>[http://www.yurail.co.yu/mreza_beovoz.htm Железнице Србије - Беовоз]</ref>
The city's Main Railway Station connects Belgrade with other European capitals, as well as with many of towns in Serbia. However, more popular in Serbia is travel by coach, and the capital is well served with daily connections to all major and minor towns in the country, as well as in the region. The motorway system provides for easy access by car to [[Novi Sad]] to the north, [[Niš]] to the south, and [[Zagreb]], the capital of Croatia, to the west. As a city situated at the confluence of two major rivers, the Danube and the Sava, Belgrade has many bridges - the two main ones are ''Branko's Bridge'' and the ''Gazela'', both of which connect the core of the city to New Belgrade. The [[Port of Belgrade]] ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]: ''Лука "Београд"'' or ''Luka "Beograd"'') is on the Danube, and allows the city to receive goods by river.<ref>[http://www.port-bgd.co.yu/sr/istorijat.htm Лука "Београд" - Историјат и положај]</ref> The city is served by [[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: '''BEG'''), a few kilometres west of the city centre. At its peak in 1986, almost 3 million passengers travelled through the airport, though that number dwindled to a trickle in the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.vazduhoplovnivodic.co.yu/sr/letelista.htm Ваздухопловни водич - Аеродром "Београд"]</ref> Following growth since 2000, the number of passengers reached about 2 million in 2004 and 2005.<ref>[http://www.danas.co.yu/20050520/ekonomija1.html Данас - Регионални центар путничког и карго саобраћаја], 20 May 2005</ref> In 2006, 2 million passengers passed through the airport by mid-November.<ref>[http://www.beg.aero/code/navigate.php?Id=63Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" Airport received its two millionth passenger ]</ref>

== Miscellaneous ==
===Names through history===
<!--"Belogrados poleos", which language is that?-->
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 10px 0 10px 25px; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #AAA solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%; float: center;"
|-
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Name
! style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 2px solid gray;" | Notes
|-
| Singidūn(on)
| Named by the Celtic tribe of the [[Scordisci]]; ''[[dun|dūn(on)]]'' means 'lodgment, enclosure', ''Singi'' is still unexplained but there are some theories; [[279 BC]]
|-
| [[Singidunum|Singidūnum]]
| Romans conquered the city and romanized the Celtic name
|-
| Beograd, Београд
| Slavic name first mentioned in [[878]] as ''Beligrad'' in the letter of [[Pope John VIII]] to Boris of Bulgaria which means "White city / white fortress".
<!--|-
| Biograd na Dunavu
| Old [[Croatian language|Croatian]] name, means White City on Danube-->
|-
| Alba Graeca
| [[Latin]] translation
|-
| Alba Bulgarica
| Latin name druing the Bulgarian rule of the city
|-
| Fehérvár
| [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] translation
|-
| Weißenburg and Griechisch Weißenburg
| [[German language|German]] translation
|-
| Castelbianco
| [[Italian language|Italian]] translation
|-
| Nandoralba
| In medieval Hungary up to the [[14th century]]
|-
| Nándorfehérvár
| In [[medieval]] Hungary
|-
| Landorfehérvár
| In medieval Hungary
|-
| Veligradon
| [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] name
|-
| Veligradi, Βελιγράδι
| [[Greek language|Greek]] name
|-
| Dar Ul Jihad
| [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] name, meaning ''House of War''
|-
| Belgrat
| [[Turkish language|Turkish]] name
|-
|بلغراد
| [[Arabic language|Arabic]] name
|-
|}
<br>

===International cooperation===
Belgrade is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with the following cities:<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=1225698 City of Belgrade - International Cooperation]</ref>
{|width="100%"
|valign="top"|
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Image:Municipal Flag of Chicago.svg|20px]] '''[[Chicago]]''', [[Illinois]], USA - ''sister city since June 2005''
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Image:Coventry-coa.png|20px]] '''[[Coventry]]''', [[United Kingdom]] - ''twin city since 1957''
|}

Other forms of cooperation and city friendship similar to the twin/sister city programmes:
{|width="100%"
|valign="top"|
* {{flagicon|Greece}} [[Image:Athens seal.jpg|20px]] '''[[Athens]]''', [[Greece]] ''(Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation, November 1966)''
* {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Image:GrbBanjeLuke.PNG|15px]] '''[[Banja Luka]]''', [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|BiH]] ''(Agreement on Cooperation, 2005)''
* {{flagicon|China}} '''[[Beijing]]''', [[People's Republic of China|China]] ''(Agreement on Cooperation, October 1980)''
* {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Image:Flag of Berlin.svg|20px]] '''[[Berlin]]''', [[Germany]] ''( Agreement on Cooperation and Friendship, November 1978)''
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Image:Kyiv flag.png|20px]] '''[[Kiev]]''', [[Ukraine]] ''(Agreement on Cooperation, May 2002)''
* {{flagicon|Slovenia}} [[Image:Wappen Ljubljana si.png|20px]] '''[[Ljubljana]]''', [[Slovenia]] ''(Letter of Intent, October 2003)'' <small>''(Signed together with Zagreb)''</small>
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Image:Milano-Stemma.png|15px]] '''[[Milan]]''', [[Italy]] ''(Memorandum of Agreement, City to City Programme, November 2000)''
* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Image:Moscow-flag.png|15px]] '''[[Moscow]]''', [[Russia]] ''(Programme of Cooperation 2003/2004, December 2002)''
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Image:Roma01.jpg|15px]] '''[[Rome]]''', [[Italy]] ''(Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation, October 1971)''
* {{flagicon|Macedonia}} [[Image:MMCA(Skopje).png|15px]] '''[[Skopje]]''', [[Republic of Macedonia]] ''(Letter of Intent, June 2006)''
* {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Image:Zagreb coat of arms.gif|15px]] '''[[Zagreb]]''', [[Croatia]] ''(Letter of Intent, October 2003)'' <small>''(Signed together with Ljubljana)''</small>
|}

===Honours===
The City of Belgrade has received various domestic and international honours, including the [[Legion of Honour]], the [[War Cross]], [[Karađorđe's Star with Swords]], and the [[Order of National Hero (Serbia)|Order of National Hero]].<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=201227 City of Belgrade - Facts about Belgrade (Received Decorations)]</ref> In [[2006]] the ''[[Financial Times]]'' of [[London]] awarded Belgrade the title of ''City of the Future of Southern Europe''.<ref>[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=1227003 Belgrade - City of the Future in Southern Europe]</ref>



== Further reading ==
* [[Milorad Pavić (writer)|Milorad Pavić]]: A Short History of Belgrade; Dereta, 2000, ISBN 8673461170
* [[Jasmina Tešanović]]: The Diary of a Political Idiot: Normal Life in Belgrade; Cleis Press 2000, ISBN 1573441147
* [[Florence Levinsohn]]: Belgrade; Ivan R. Dee, 1995, ISBN 1566630614
* [[Andrew Archibald Paton]]: [http://pge.rastko.net/dirs/1/6/9/9/16999/16999-h/16999-h.htm Servia, the youngest member of the European family: Or, A residence in Belgrade, and travels in the highlands and woodlands of the interior, during the years 1843 and 1844.]; Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1845

==External links==
{| align=right
|valign=bottom|{{wikiquote|Belgrade}}
||{{commons|Belgrade}}
|}
*[http://www.beograd.org.yu/cms/view.php?id=220 City of Belgrade Official Website]
*[http://www.tob.co.yu/ Tourist Organization of Belgrade]
*[http://web.mit.edu/most/www/ser/Belgrade/architecture.html Architecture of Belgrade]
*[http://beobuild.net BeoBuild (Construction projects)]
*{{Wikitravel|Belgrade}}

{{Political divisions of Serbia}}
{{Danube}}

== Footnotes ==
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[[Category:Belgrade| ]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Central Serbia]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Cities on the Danube]]
[[Category:Šumadija]]
[[Category:3rd century BC establishments]]

{{featured article}}

[[ar:بلغراد]]
[[ast:Belgradu]]
[[bs:Beograd]]
[[bg:Белград]]
[[ca:Belgrad]]
[[cs:Bělehrad]]
[[da:Beograd]]
[[de:Belgrad]]
[[et:Belgrad]]
[[el:Βελιγράδι]]
[[es:Belgrado]]
[[eo:Beogrado]]
[[fr:Belgrade]]
[[gl:Belgrado]]
[[ko:베오그라드]]
[[hy:Բելգրադ]]
[[hsb:Běłohród]]
[[hr:Beograd]]
[[io:Belgrade]]
[[id:Beograd]]
[[it:Belgrado]]
[[he:בלגרד]]
[[ka:ბელგრადი]]
[[ku:Belgrad]]
[[la:Belgradum]]
[[lv:Belgrada]]
[[lt:Belgradas]]
[[hu:Belgrád]]
[[mk:Белград]]
[[mt:Belgrad]]
[[nl:Belgrado]]
[[ja:ベオグラード]]
[[no:Beograd]]
[[nn:Beograd]]
[[ug:بېلگراد]]
[[nds:Belgrad]]
[[pl:Belgrad]]
[[pt:Belgrado]]
[[ro:Belgrad]]
[[ru:Белград]]
[[sq:Beogradi]]
[[scn:Belgradu]]
[[simple:Belgrade]]
[[sk:Belehrad]]
[[sl:Beograd]]
[[cu:Бѣлъ Градъ]]
[[sr:Београд]]
[[sh:Beograd]]
[[fi:Belgrad]]
[[sv:Belgrad]]
[[tg:Белград]]
[[tr:Belgrad]]
[[vec:Belgrado]]
[[vo:Beograd]]
[[zh:贝尔格莱德]]

Revision as of 02:33, 24 November 2006

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