Photos taken by neron

Prishtina city

Capital of Kosovo, pop.600,000. Pre-war Serb population was 20%, today less than 0.5%

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Smederevo- the end of medieval Serbia

Smederevo was the last capital city of medieval Serbia, until 1459, when it fell to the Ottomans(*Belgrade was under protection of the Hungarian crown from 1430 until 1521, when it too was conquered by the Turks). The city complex was fortified and contained 25 defensive towers, with Serbian Metropolitan see and royal court beeing inside the complex (as well as the castle and villager's homes). It changed hands several times during Austro-Turkish wars in 17th and 18th centuries. Big part of the fortress unfortunately, today lies under the Danube surface, probably due to erosion. *picture taken from TOB

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Perast, Bay of Kotor

This remarkable city was known in the late medieval times to be one of the most succesful city republics in the Adriatic, along with Venice, Dubrovnik and Kotor. On the far right side you can see the islands of St Nicholas and Our Lady of Rocks, both built in 15th century, on the place where, according to the legend, the icon of Virgin Mary was found floating at the surface of the sea. Bay of Cotor is one of the fines natural bay harbours, and certainly one of the most beautiful ones of that kind in the Mediterranean.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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The tombs of Serbian King Stefan and his sister Helen, 14th century

This is the interior of this UNESCO protected medieval monastery, which is today entirely surrounded by Albanian community of Kosovo. Several times during the last 5 years only thanks to Italian KFOR troops this historic monument of medieval Serbia was rescued, and so were the people and monks who are trying to preserve their sacred grounds- and identity. We all pray that they succeed.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Christ carrying the cross, frescoe

In 2004 UNESCO sited the frescoes of the 14th century Serbian Orthodox monastery of Decani, Kosovo, as beeing "one of the most valued examples of the so-called Palaeologan renaissance in Byzantine painting" and "a valuable record of the life in the 14th century". Today this monastery, which is also a place of rest of Serbian king Stefan and very rich in Christian relicts, is beeing guarded by Italian KFOR peacekeepers against Albanian extremists. 30 monks still live and worship in this monastery, and are denied their right to walk freely for their own safety. That is also the case with hundreds of other monks, priests and Serbian families who seeked shelter in the monasteries throughout Kosovo since 1999 (ironically, like they did back in the medieval times)...

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Beli Andjeo- White Angel

Serbian medieval art is preserved in its churches and temples, which is logical because most of the other public buildings, palaces etc have not survived a millenium of constant warfare over this land. This beautiful frescoe is one of the greates cultural treasures of medieval European art, which is why it is protected by UNESCO together with its monastery, Mileseva. It dates back to the 13th century.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Sirmium- The Imperial Capital City

Ever from its takeover by the Romans in about 97 AD Sirmium has been a city of great importance, beeing the capital of Lower Pannonia (one of 12 provinces that existed in the Roman Empire). During Diocletian's reform however, the site gained even bigger importance when this emperor has reorganized the empire, dividing it into 4 parts (with 4 capitals in Nicomedia, Milan, Trier and Sirmium). As an imperial city, Sirumium trived and dominated the area of today's Balkans (prefecture of Illyricum, until 379.), when it got divided and included into prefecture of Italy. The city will become a major battlefield during next centuries, defending the borders of the Empire. The excavations reviel new secrets of the city every year. 6 Roman Emperors were born in the city and many other were crowned there (including Theodosius, the last monarch of the united Roman Empire)

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Romuliana-the imperial palace

This 4th century palace has been built by Roman emperor Gaius Valerius Galerius Maximianus, who is one of many emperors that originated from the territoy of today's Serbia. The palace contains mosaics, frescoes, capitols etc. Proof of the glorious past of Romuliana is maginificent temple dedicated to Jupiter (unfortunately only in ruins), and a smaller royal temple dedicated to Magna Mater (Great Mother). Behind the palace is the sacred hill where the monumental tombs to Gaius and his wife Romula- (Diocletian's daughter)- have been erected. Diocletian, one of the most famous late Roman emperors has spent a lot of time in this palace (he also originated from Dioclea- today's Podgorica, Montenegro).

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Contrasts- Novi Pazar, Serbia

This city is located in South (Old)Serbia and is one of the biggest muslim cities in the country (next to Pristina and Prizren in Kosovo). That is the result of Serbian migrations towards more developed North, where they could as well practise their religion more openly. Bosniak Muslims and Turks consist majority of the population in the city, as well as some Serbs and Montenegrins. Unlike in Kosovo, in modern days everyday life among different nationalities/religions is very tollerant and peaceful. In the outskirts of the city lies Ras fortress, capital of the 9th century Serbia.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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St Andrea- Serbian village in Hungary

This village has been settled by Serbian refugees from Pec, Kosovo, in 1691, during the First Great Serbian Migration. At least 120,000 Serbian refugees have crossed Danube in Belgrade and withdrew from their native land, together with the Austrians (who have held Serbia for 2 years prior). Led under Patriarch Arsenije II Charnojevic, few dozen families have settled in the area on the outskirts of Budapest, carrying crosses, icons and other relicts, including the bones of the last Serb emperor- Czar Lazar (died in battle of Kosovo against Turks, on 28.6.1389.) There are as many as 7 Serbian Orthodox Churches in the village where the descendents of the Kosovo Serbs can pray for their homeland (which is still disputed today).

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Downtown Belgrade (pop.2,000,000)- the city in cofluence

picture has been taken from: asper.maruanaja.nl/ ursa/balkan2001/belgrade.html.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Synagogue in Novi Sad, Vojvodina

Jewish population represented a significant part in Novi Sad's total population until the outbreak of WWII, and suprisingly, so were the Germans. Most of the city's Jews have unfortunately been found hiding in this synagogue in 1942 and shot dead by Nazis. Ethnic Germans have fled the city after WWII was over. This avenue carries the name "Jewish", in order to pay tribute to its lost citizens.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Novi Sad's Catholic Cathedral

Novi Sad and Vojvodina province have been dominated by Austria and Hungary throughout most of the history; it has a distinct Central/Western European character. Catholicism has been practised here by a large part of population (over 30%- Slovaks, Hungarians, Croats, Czechs, Rusyns, Bunjevci etc). It represents a historical contrast between Vojvodina, which was Catholic, Central Serbia- Orthodox Christian, and South Serbia and Kosovo- mostly Muslims (Albanians, Turks, etc)

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Subotica's city hall, Vojvodina, S&M

Subotica is definetely, apart from Novi Sad, the most picturesque and beautiful city in all of Vojvodina and Serbia. The city has about 100,000 people and as a result of Austro-Hungarian domination throughout most of history, it has a majority non-Serb population such as Magyars, Croats, Germans, Slovaks etc. It was a seat of the Second Serbian Empire which only lasted for about 2 years in 1527-28; by that time Serbs have almost became a majority in the region, fleeing from the Ottoman rule in the South.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Patriarchate of Pec II, Kosovo

One more photo of one of the most important sacred sites in all of the Balkans, "Serbian Mt Athos". This medieval monument is today among 20 most indangered world heritage sites, and hopefully it survives this difficult times. From 1999 onward, at least 45 medieval Serbian Orthodox Churches have been completely destroyed, 2 tines more than during 500 years of Ottoman rule

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Patriarchate of Pec, Kosovo

UNESCO protected spiritual seat of the Old Serbian Kingdom and Empire, this complex contains from 4 churches built between 13th and 14th centuries. After the empire collapsed, muslims have started to settle in the area, while Christians began leaving Kosovo, fearing revenge and repression. The peak of the repression were the last decades of the 16th centuries, when this Patriarchate has been abolshed as well as freedom of religion in Serbia, resulting in the Serbian rebellion of 1595. That year the bones of the most influential Serbian saint, St Sava, have been publicly desacrated (after 350 years), and burned. That is when Serbian migrations to the North and West became a reality, ending in 1691 and 1739, when Orthodox Christians were publicly invited to settle in Austria by Emperor Leopold. That is also the reason why Serbian nation is so scattered all across Western Balkans and into Central Europe (St Andrea, Budapest).

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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The Old Palace

This palace dates back to the 19th century. It is located in the historic center of Belgrade, close to the Parliament building and the Serbian Kings Avenue. There's another palace just across from this one- The New Palace; these two had been connected but during one of many airrades in WWII the central part got destroyed. Today however they exist as 2 separata parts, one of them serving as a seat for Belgrade City government, while the other one servs as a museum.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Bohemian Belgrade

Romantic architecture of 19th century Belgrade can be seen here. The church is just across the street from Princess Ljubica's Balkan style-palace.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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" A la France"...

This monument was erected to remember The French-Serbian Allied campaign; France was one of the countries, with Russia and G.Britain, that mobilised its army as a sign of support against Austro-Hungary and Germany, which de facto marked the beginning of WWI.

Date: 2005
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Kalemegdan fortress, Belgrade

Remains of the 15th-century castle of Despot Stefan, the last monarch of medieval Serbia before the Turkish conquest of Belgrade and Central Europe in 1521 (later Budapest and Vienna). Kalemegdan fortress has been built periodically ever since 3rd century B.C. and is one of the biggest ones of that kind in Europe

Date: July 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Battle of Kosovo (1389) memorial

This site is dedicated to Serbian nobility and their soldiers that gave their lives defending Serbian Empire against Oriental Turks. On 28.6.1389, (St Vitus Day), the two armies clashed in Kosovo Field. The battle lasted for several days and ended disasterly for both sides, both having lost their leaders, Prince (Czar) Lazar and Sultan Murat. Serbia has lost its leader, almost entire army has been killed, including all of Serbian nobility and local rulers. After the battle Turks had witdrawn back to Asia but came back in following years, facing no major treat after Serbian army has been destroyed, as well as one of Greece and Bulgaria. This date is deeply respected by every member of the Serbian nation as the day when their medieval empire had collapsed and 5-centuries dark age has begun for the Balkans.

Date: 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Petrovaradin Fortress, Novi Sad

This fort. complex has been built throughout 17th and 18th centuries on Danube river,in order to protect the borders of Austria from the Ottomans. It was the largest complex of that kind in former Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Between the walls of the fortress there's a small baroque city of Petrovaradin, today part of Novi Sad. It is also known among European youth to be the home to the biggest music festival in this part of the continent, famous EXIT festival.

Date: 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Kotor- medieval city republic

This extraordinary city lies on extreme south of Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. It is one of the most famous cities on the Adriatic and throughout most of history rivalled in trade with Venice and Dubrovnik. Late medieval times ment peak of glory for Kotor, as it was an independent republic under protection by Serbian emperors. However in 15th century Serbian Empire was already in pieces so the city asked Venice for protection, which lasted for 400 years, until the Napoleon's troops arrived in the city and annexed it to the French Empire. After he was defeated, Austria gained control over the city despite Serbo-Montenegrin fierce resistance. In ofset of WWI Austrian soldiers have rebelled in the city, which led eventually to their withdrawal and unification with Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Much of the city (fortress, palaces, churches) are under UNESCO protection. *picture taken from: http://www.pbase.com/alangrant/image/28739976

Date: 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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Novi Sad, Vojvodina province

Novi Sad (pop.300,000) is among the Serbs known as "Serbian Athens"- a city where Serbian cultural revival began since the end of the 18th century. Like the rest of Vojvodina (today's Northern Serbia), it belonged to Austro-Hungary until 1918 and it is the center of the most diverse province/area in Europe. Vojvodina (size of Slovenia) has more than 38 nationalities and no less than 6 official languages. It is also the most developed part of Serbia- so called "Central European Serbia", or "Pannonian Serbia".

Date: 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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King Milan's Avenue (Serbian Kings Av.)

The Avenue as it is seen from the rooftop of the Balkan hotel. Hotel Moscow and Terazije monument are to the left, Terazije Theatre, Parliament and the Boulevard of King Alexandar are further to the right.

Date: 2004
Photographer: neron: gallery
Location: Serbia
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