One world intellectual said: „If all the cities of the world were destroyed and only Sarajevo remained, civilization could be reborn in Sarajevo.“

Sarajevo was founded by Isa-beg Ishaković, a Bosnian sanjak-bey during the Ottoman Empire, in 1462.

In order to understand the richness of the history of the area where Sarajevo is located, it is interesting to know that the first human settlements in the area of Sarajevo date back to the Young Stone Age. This place was inhabited by Illyrians, Romans, Slavs. From the Middle Ages to now, this area was part of the Banovina of Bosnia, and Kingdom of Bosnia, Ottoman Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire; Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes; Kingdom of Yugoslavia; Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sarajevo is a city you have to experience, it cannot be described.

Sarajevo is a meeting place of East and West. The city where the 20th century began (with the Sarajevo assassination that started World War I). Sarajevo is the city where the 1984 Winter Olympics were held. The second millennium ended in Sarajevo (with the aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the longest siege of a capital city in modern history from 1992-1996). Sarajevo is a hero city.

Sarajevo is the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its cultural, administrative, economic and social center.

It is located in a valley, between the Olympic mountains, through which rivers flow and mountains surround it. 

The climate of Sarajevo is pleasant, moderately continental. The people of Sarajevo are known as one of the kindest in the world. Kindness, hospitality, a multitude of history, cultural, sports, scientificmand civilizational achievements are some of the main features of Sarajevo.

Sarajevo is known in the world as European Jerusalem, due to its religious and cultural diversity, which has lasted continuously for more than half a millennium. It is one of the few cities in the world where in a radius of 100 meters you can find a Muslim mosque, a Catholic church, a Jewish synagogue and an Orthodox church.

To get an idea of what Sarajevo is, we will quote a world-famous: travel writer; screenwriter and director; musician, athlete and actor.

„There are many cities called Saraj in this world…, but this fortified Bosnian city of Sarajevo is the most advanced, most beautiful and most lively of them all.“

Evlija Čelebi, 17th century Ottoman traveler

„When you go to Sarajevo what you experience... is life.“

Mike Leigh, English writer and director

„This is the most beautiful city; sophisticated, complex and multicultural.“

Bono, lead singer of the band U2

„There's nothing prettier than my arrival in Sarajevo, with the welcoming smiles of dear people. I have a feeling that everything in Sarajevo is prettier, that the sun is shining stronger, snow is whiter, rain is less wet, people are happy, despite all the problems they have. Nowhere in the world have I seen more jovial people.“

Edin Džeko, football player

„I was interested in coming here.... I've been impressed by the beauty of the city and I think it's a shame to see that a city like this could be attacked. I’ll treasure this award - my Heart of Sarajevo - because I don’t think there is another city in the world that has shown such heart in the face of so much tragedy.“

Robert De Niro, actor

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