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Sarajevo (Сарајево)
Sarajevo in winter
Sarajevo in winter
Flag of Sarajevo (Сарајево)
Flag
Official seal of Sarajevo (Сарајево)
Seal
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)
Map of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo)
CountryBosnia and Herzegovina
EntityFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
CantonSarajevo Canton
Government
 • MayorSemiha Borovac
Elevation
500.00 m (1,640.42 ft)
Population
 (2005 (est.))
 • Total308,558
Time zoneUTC+1 (Central European Time)
WebsiteCity of Sarajevo

Sarajevo (Cyrillic: Сарајево; IPA: [sa'rajɛʋɔ], in English usually [ˌsærəˈjeɪvoʊ]) is the capital city and largest urban center of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an estimated population of 308,558 (as of 2005).[1] It is also the capital of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity, and the de jure capital of the Republika Srpska entity, as well as the center of the Sarajevo Canton. Sarajevo is located in the Sarajevo valley of Bosnia proper, surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated around the Miljacka river. The city is famous for its traditional religious diversity, with adherents of Islam, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Judaism peacefully coexisting there for centuries.[2]

Although settlement in the area stretches back to prehistoric times, the modern city arose as an Ottoman stronghold in the 15th century.[3] Sarajevo has attracted international attention several times throughout its history: In 1914 it was the site of the assassination that sparked World War I, while seventy years later it became the host city of the 1984 Winter Olympics. More recently, Sarajevo underwent the longest siege in modern military history during the Bosnian war. Today the city is recovering and adjusting to a post-war reality, as a major center of culture and economic development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[4]

Geography and climate

The Greater Sarajevo region.
The Greater Sarajevo region.

Sarajevo is located close to the center of the triangular shape of Bosnia and Herzegovina in southeastern Europe. It consists of four municipalities (or "Općina"): Centar (Center), Novi Grad (New City), Novo Sarajevo (New Sarajevo), and Stari Grad (Old Town). Greater Sarajevo includes these and the neighbouring municipalities of Ilidža and Vogošća.

The city, located in the Sarajevo valley amongst the Dinaric Alps mountain range, has two rivers flowing through it: the westward flowing Miljacka and the southward flowing Bosna. Covering 142 km² (88.2 mi²) and sitting at 500 meters above sea level, the city is encircled by heavily forested hills and mountains. The city itself has its fair share of hilly terrain, as evidenced by its many steeply inclined streets, not to mention the numerous neighborhoods and settlements that seem to be perched on the hillsides.

Sarajevo has a continental climate, lying between the climate zones of central Europe to the North and the Mediterranean to the South. The year-round average is 10°C (45°F) with mild summers (18.1°C or 64.6°F), and cold winters (0.3°C or 32.5°F).[5] The warmest month is July (19°C or 66°F) and the coldest is January (-1°C or 30°F). Sarajevo receives about 932 mm (37 inches) of precipitation a year. The wettest month is October (103 mm or 4.0 in); the driest is March (62 mm or 2.4 in).[6]

History

Ferhad-Begova, one of Sarajevo's 86 mosques.
Main article: History of Sarajevo

The Sarajevo valley has a long and rich history dating back to the Neolithic period, when the Butmir Culture flourished. Several Illyrian settlements existed in the area before it was conquered by Rome in 9 CE.[7] During Roman times, a town named Aquae Sulphurae ("sulfuric thermal spring") existed on the location of the present-day Sarajevo suburb of Ilidža.[8] After the Romans, the Goths settled the area, followed by the Slavs in the 7th century.[9]

The settlement Vrh-Bosna existed in the valley as a Slavic citadel from 1263 until it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1429.[10] Under Isa-Beg Isaković, the first Ottoman governor of the Bosnia Province, the settlement was established as a city, named Bosna-Saraj, around the citadel in 1461. The governor oversaw the construction of the city's Old Town district, including a water-supply system, mosque, closed marketplace, public bath, hostel, and Governor's palace. Gazi Husrev-beg was appointed the second governor of the Bosnia Province in 1521 and built the city's first library, madrassa, school of Sufi philosophy, as well as the Sahat Kula clock tower.

In 1697, during the Great Turkish War, a raid was led by Prince Eugene of Savoy of the Habsburg Monarchy against the Ottoman Empire, which conquered Sarajevo and left it plague-infected and burned to the ground. The city was later rebuilt, but never fully recovered from the destruction. The Ottoman Empire made Sarajevo an important administrative centre by 1850, but the ruling powers changed as the Austria-Hungarian Empire conquered Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1878 as part of the Treaty of Berlin, and annexed it completely in 1908. Sarajevo was industrialized by Austria-Hungary, who used the city as a testing area for new inventions, such as tramways, before installing them in Vienna.[9][11]

In the event that triggered World War I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo on June 28 1914 by a Bosnian Serb nationalist named Gavrilo Princep. In the ensuing war, however, most of the Balkan offensives occurred near Belgrade, and Sarajevo largely escaped damage during the war. Following the war, after the Balkans were unified under the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Sarajevo became the capital of the Drina Province.

A Sarajevo Rose marking where people were killed by a mortar explosion

In April 1941 Nazi Germany invaded Yugoslavia and bombarded Sarajevo. At this time, there were approximately 10,500 Jews living in Sarajevo, who, along with Romany and Orthodox Serbians, were oppressed by the Ustaše government or transported to concentration camps.[12] Communist Partisan resistance fighters, led by Josip Broz Tito, liberated Sarajevo on 6 April 1945. Afterwards, the city grew rapidly as it became an important regional industrial center in Yugoslavia. As part of the 1945 General Town Development Plan modern city blocks were built west of the old city, adding to Sarajevo's architectural uniqueness. The peak of city growth occurred in the early 1980s, when Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics.[13]

On April 6 1992, as Yugoslavia was falling disintegrating, Sarajevo was surrounded by the Yugoslav National Army (Bosnian: "Jugoslovenska Narodna Armija") and a number of paramilitary (Bosnian Serb Army) formations. The siege of Sarajevo, which lasted until October 1995, resulted in large scale destruction and dramatic population shifts. Reconstruction of Sarajevo started as soon as the war ended with the Dayton Agreement of November 1995. By 2003, most of the city had been rebuilt, with only a few remaining visible ruins in the city centre. Modern office buildings and skyscrapers have since been constructed throughout the city.[14]

Government

File:PresidencyofBosnaandHerzegovina.PNG
The building of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, central Sarajevo.

Sarajevo is the capital of the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its sub-entity, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as of the Sarajevo Canton. Each of these levels of government has their parliament or council, as well as judicial courts, in the city. Because of this concentration of power, many foreign embassies are located in Sarajevo.

The city is comprised of four municipalities which each operate their own municipal government, united to form one city government with its own constitution. The executive branch (Bosnian: "Gradska Uprava") consists of a mayor, with two deputies and a cabinet. The legislative branch consists of the City Council, or Gradsko Vijeće. The council has 24 members, including a council speaker, two deputies, and a secretary. Councillors are elected by the municipality in numbers roughly proportional to their population. The city government also has a judicial branch based on the post-transitional judicial system as outlined by the High Representative's “High Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils”.

Sarajevo's Municipalities are further split into "local communities" (Bosnian, Mjesne zajednice). Local communities have a small role in city government and are intended as a way for ordinary citizens to get involved in city government. They are based around key neighborhoods in the city.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Sarajevo
File:2615282-lg.jpg
Baščaršija, Old town of Sarajevo

The last official census in Bosnia and Herzegovina took place 1991 which recorded 529,021 people living in Sarajevo.[15] The war displaced hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have not returned. A 2005 estimate by the Sarajevo Canton government estimated the city's population at 308,558 people, 74% of the Canton's population.[16] With an area of 142 km², Sarajevo has a population density of about 2173 people per square kilometer. The Novo Sarajevo municipality is the most densely populated part of Sarajevo with about 7524 inhabitants per square kilometer, while the least densely populated is the Stari Grad, with 742 inhabitants per square kilometer.[17]

War changed the ethnic and religious profile of the city. While it had long been known as a multicultural city,[18] or Europe's Jerusalem,[19] Muslims Bosniaks returned to form an even greater proportion of people. In 1991 Bosniaks formed 50% of the population, followed by Eastern Orthodox Serbs with 33%, and Roman Catholic Croats with 7%. However, in 1997 Bosniaks formed 87% of the population, with Serbs at 5% and Croats at 6%.[20] If the East Sarajevo (Republika Srpska) population were to be included (130,000, mostly Serbs), the Bosniaks would still have an absolute majority, followed by Serbs at around 33% of the overall population.

See also: Historical population of Sarajevo

Economy

Main article: Economy of Sarajevo

After decades of communism and years of war, Sarajevo's economy has been subject to reconstruction and rehabilitation programs.[21] Amongst other economic landmarks, the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina opened in Sarajevo in 1997 and the Sarajevo Stock Exchange began trading in 2002. The city's large manufacturing, administration, and tourism base, combined with a large informal market,[22] makes it one of the strongest economic regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

While Sarajevo had a large industrial base during its communist period, only a few pre-existing businesses made the successful transition to the capitalist economy. Sarajevo industries now include tobacco products, furniture, hosiery, automobiles, and communication equipment.[9] Companies based in Sarajevo include B&H Airlines (Formerly Air Bosna), BH Telecom, Bosmal City Center, Bosnalijek, Energopetrol, Sarajevo Tobacco Factory, and Sarajevska Pivara (Sarajevo Brewery).

File:SarajevoHolidayInn.JPG
The Holiday Inn, Sarajevo, 1983, architect Ivan Straus. Its distinctive color and location has made the building iconic.

Sarajevo has a strong tourist industry and was named by Lonely Planet the 43rd Best City in the World in 2006.[23] Sports-related tourism uses the legacy facilities of the 1984 Winter Olympics, especially the skiing facilities on the nearby mountains of Bjelašnica, Igman, Jahorina, Trebević, and Treskavica. Sarajevo's 600 years of history, influenced by both Western and Eastern empires, is also a strong tourist attraction. Sarajevo has hosted travellers for centuries, because it was an important trading center during the Ottoman and Austria-Hungarian empires. Examples of popular destinations in Sarajevo include the Vrelo Bosne park, the Sarajevo cathedral, and the Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque.

Communications and media

File:AVAZ-finis.jpg
The headquarters of the Sarajevo newspaper Dnevni Avaz.
Main article: Communications and Media of Sarajevo

As the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo is the main center of the country's media. Most of the communications and media infrastructure was destroyed during the war but reconstruction led by the Office of the High Representative have helped modernize the industry.[24] For example, internet was first made available to the city in 1995.[25]

Oslobodenje (Liberation), founded in 1943, is Sarajevo longest running newspaper and the only one to survive the war. However, this long running and trusted newspaper has fallen behind the Dnevni Avaz (Daily Voice), founded in 1995, and Jutarnje Novine in circulation in Sarajevo.[26] Other local periodicals include the Croatian-language newspaper Hrvatska Rijec and the Bosnian magazine Start, as well as weekly newspapers Slobodna Bosna (Free Bosnia) and BH Dani (BH Days).

The Public Broadcast Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Sarajevo's public television station, one of three in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Other stations based in the city include NRTV “Studio 99”, NTV Hayat, Open Broadcast Network, TV Kantona Sarajevo and Televizija Alfa. Many small independent radio stations exist, included established stations such as Radio M, Radio Grad (Radio Old Town), eFM Student Radio, Radio 202 and RSG. Radio Free Europe, as well as several American and West European stations, are available in the city, as well.

Transportation

Sarajevo was the first city in Europe to have a full-time (from dawn to dusk) operational electric tram line.

Sarajevo's location in a valley between mountains make it a compact city. Narrow city streets and a lack of parking areas restrict automobile traffic but allow better pedestrian and cyclist mobility. The two main streets are Titova street and the east-west Zmaj od Bosne (Dragon of Bosnia) highway. The trans-European highway, Corridor 5C, runs through Sarajevo connecting it to Budapest in the north, and Ploce in the south.[27]

Electric tramways, in operation since 1885, are the oldest form of public transportation in the city.[citation needed] There are seven tramway lines supplemented by four trolleybus lines and numerous bus routes. The main railroad station in Sarajevo is located in the north-central area of the city. From there, the tracks head west before branching off in different directions, including to the industrial sector.

Sarajevo International Airport (IATA: SJJ) is located just a few kilometers southwest of the city. During the war the airport was used for United Nations flights and humanitarian relief. Since the Dayton Accord in 1996, the airport has welcomed a thriving commercial flight business which includes B&H Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Aero Flight, Lufthansa, Jat Airways, Croatia Airlines, and others. In 2004, 397,000 passengers had traveled through Sarajevo airport, whereas only 25,000 had just 8 years earlier in 1996.[28]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Sarajevo
The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo.

Sarajevo has been home to many different ethnicities and religions for centuries, giving the city a range of diverse cultures. Bosnian Muslims, Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, Jews, and Slovenians all shared the city while maintaining distinctive identities. Today, however, the city is overwhelmingly Bosnian Muslim.

The city is rich in museums, including the Museum of Sarajevo, the Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (established in 1888 and home to the Sarajevo Haggadah), the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Museum of Literature and Theatre Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The city also hosts the National theatre of Bosnia and Herzegovina, established in 1919, as well as the Sarajevo Youth Theatre. Other cultural institutions include the Center for Sarajevo Culture, Sarajevo City Library, Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Bosniak Institute, a privately owned library and art collection focusing on Bosniak history.

Demolitions associated with the war,[29] as well as reconstruction, destroyed several institutions and cultural or religious symbols including the Gazi Husrev-beg library, the national library, the Sarajevo Oriental Institute, and a museum dedicated to the 1984 Olympic games. Consequently, the different levels of government estblished strong cultural protection laws and institutions. Bodies charged with cultural preservation in Sarajevo include the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina (and their Sarajevo Canton counterpart), and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission to Preserve National Monuments.

Tsar's Mosque in Sarajevo, on the bank of the Miljacka river

Historically, Sarajevo was home to several famous Bosnian poets and thinkers during the Ottoman Empire. Nobel Prize winner Vladimir Prelog is from the city, as was academy award winning director Danis Tanovic. Nobel Prize winner Ivo Andric spent much of his life in Sarajevo.

The Sarajevo Film Festival, established in 1995, has become the premier film festival in the Balkans. The Sarajevo Winter Festival, Sarajevo Jazz Festival are well-known, as are the Bašćaršija Nights, a month-long showcase of local culture, music, and dance.

The Sarajevo school of pop rock developed in the city between 1961 and 1991. This type of music began with bands like Indexi, Bijelo dugme and singer/song writer Kemal Monteno. It continued into the 1980s, with bands such as Plavi orkestar, Zabranjeno pušenje and Crvena jabuka, ending with the war in 1992.

Sports

Sarajevo was the location of the 1984 Winter Olympics. Yugoslavia won one medal, a silver in men's giant slalom awarded to Slovene Jure Franko.[30] Many of the Olympic facilities survived the war, including Olympic Hall Zetra and Asim Ferhatović Stadion. After co-hosting the Southeast Europe Friendship games, Sarajevo was awarded the 2009 Special Olympic winter games,[31] but cancelled these plans.[32][33]

Football (soccer) is popular in Sarajevo; the city hosts FK Sarajevo and FK Željezničar, which both compete in European and international cups and tournaments, as well as FK Olimpik. Another popular sport is basketball; the basketball club KK Bosna Sarajevo won the European championship in 1979. The chess club, Bosna Sarajevo, has been a championship team since the 1980s.

Sarajevo often holds international events and competitions in sports such as tennis and kickboxing. Rock climbing is popular; not far from the CBD is the climbing center Dariva, managed by extreme climbing club Red Point.

Logo Club Leagues Venue Established
FK Željezničar logo FK Željezničar Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Grbavica Stadium 1921
FK Sarajevo Logo FK Sarajevo Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Asim Ferhatović Hase Stadium 1946
FK Olimpik Logo FK Olimpik Sarajevo Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina

First League of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Otoka Stadium 1993
KK Bosna Logo KK Bosna Premier League of Basketball of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Adriatic Basketball Association

Mirza Delibasic Arena 1951

Education

The Sarajevo art academy, on the bank of the Miljacka.

Higher education has a long tradition in Sarajevo. The first university in Sarajevo was a school of Sufi philosophy established by Gazi Husrev-beg in 1531; numerous other religious schools have been established over time. In 1887, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a Sharia Law School began a five-year program. In the 1940s the University of Sarajevo became the city's first secular higher education institute. In the 1950s postgraduate studies first became available. While the university was severely damaged during the war, reconstruction was done in partnership with more than 40 universities. As of 2005, Sarajevo has 46 elementary schools (Grades 1–9) and 33 high schools (Grades 10–13), including three special needs schools.[34]

Twin cities

See also: Town twinning

See also

References

  1. ^ Federal Office of Statistics, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Estimation of the present population by age and sex, December 31, 2005. Annually Statistical Information. (download pdf required). Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  2. ^ Malcolm, Noel (1994). Bosnia A Short History. New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-5520-8.
  3. ^ Valerijan, Žujo; Imamović, Mustafa; Ćurovac, Muhamed (1997). Sarajevo. Svjetlost.
  4. ^ Kelley, Steve. Rising Sarajevo finds hope again. The Seattle Times. Retrieved on 19 August 2006.
  5. ^ Federal Office of Statistics. Temperatures and Precipitations. Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  6. ^ BBC Weather. Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina. World Weather - Average Conditions. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  7. ^ Tourism Association of Sarajevo Canton. The Culture & History. World Weather - Average Conditions. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  8. ^ Bosnia and Herzegovina Commission to Preserve National Monuments. II – PROCEDURE PRIOR TO DECISION. Roman remains at Ilidža, the archaeological site - Elucidation. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  9. ^ a b c New Britannica, volume 10, edition 15 (1989). Sarajevo. ISBN 0-85229-493-X.
  10. ^ The Columbia Encyclopedia, edition 6. Sarajevo. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  11. ^ FICE (International Federation of Educative Communities) Congress 2006. Sarajevo - History. Congress in Sarajevo. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  12. ^ Savich, Carl (2001). Islam under the Swastika: The Grand Mufti and the Nazi Protectorate of Bosnia-Hercegovina, 1941-1945. Kosovo and Bosnia During World War II. Projekat Rastko. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  13. ^ Sachs, Stephen E. (1994). Sarajevo: A Crossroads in History. Retrieved on 3 August 2006.
  14. ^ World Bank Operations Evaulation Department (2004-09-02). "Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Assistance Evaluation" (pdf). OED Reach. Retrieved 2006-08-03.
  15. ^ United Nations Statistics Division. Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1991. Population density and urbanization. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  16. ^ Federal Office of Statistics, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Estimation of the present population by age and sex, December 31, 2005. Annually Statistical Information. (download pdf required). Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  17. ^ Sarajevo Canton. Population Density by Municipalities of Sarajevo Canton. About Canton. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  18. ^ Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US Department of State. Bosnia and Herzegovina International Religious Freedom Report 2005. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  19. ^ Stilinovic, Josip (January 03 2002). In Europe's Jerusalem Catholic World News. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  20. ^ Sarajevo. Crucible of War: A Journey Back to the Balkans. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  21. ^ European Commission & World Bank. The European Community (EC) Europe for Sarajevo Programme The EC reconstruction programme for Bosnia and Herzegovina detailed by sector. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  22. ^ CIA (2006). Bosnia and Herzegovina CIA World Factbook. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  23. ^ Lonely Planet (March 2006). The Cities Book: A Journey Through The Best Cities In The World. Lonely Planet Publications, ISBN 1-74104-731-5.
  24. ^ European Journalism Centre (November 2002). The Bosnia-Herzegovina media landscape. European Media Landscape. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  25. ^ Vockic-Avdagic, Jelenka. The Internet and the Public in Bosnia-Herzegovina in Spassov, O. and Todorov Ch. (eds.) (2003), New Media in Southeast Europe. SOEMZ, European University "Viadrina" (Frankfurt - Oder) and Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski".
  26. ^ Udovicic, Radenko (03-05-2002). What is Happening with the Oldest Bosnian-Herzegovinian Daily: Oslobodenje to be sold for 4.7 Million Marks Mediaonline.ba: Southeast European Media Journal.
  27. ^ Bosmal. Corridor 5C. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  28. ^ Krkic, Zahid Statatistic data for Sarajevo Airport. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  29. ^ Perlez, Jane (12 August 1996). Ruins of Sarajevo Library Is Symbol of a Shattered Culture New York Times.
  30. ^ IOC (2006). Jure Franko Althete: Profiles. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  31. ^ Special Olymics, (2005 - Quarter 2). 2009 Games in Sarajevo Spirit. Retrieved on 5 August 2006.
  32. ^ Hem, Brad (29 July 2006). Idaho may be in the running to host the 2009 Special Olympics IdahoStatesman.com.
  33. ^ Special Olympics (May 2006). Boise, Idaho (USA) Awarded 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Global News.
  34. ^ Sarajevo Canton, 2000 Primary Education & Secondary Education (pdf). Sarajevo 2000, p107–08.
  • City of Sarajevo official website
  • City of Sarajevo. Fraternity cities.
  • Maniscalco, Fabio (1997). Sarajevo. Itinerari artistici perduti (Sarajevo. Artistic Itineraries Lost). Naples : Guida
  • Prstojević, Miroslav (1992). Zaboravljeno Sarajevo (Forgotten Sarajevo). Sarajevo: Ideja
  • Valerijan, Žujo; Imamović, Mustafa; Ćurovac, Muhamed (1997). Sarajevo. Sarajevo: Svjetlost

External links

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