Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Population | 275524 |
Area | 141.5 km2 (54.6 sq mi) |
Time Zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
Coordinates | 43.84864, 18.35644 |
Highest elevation | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
City Gallery
City Description
Sarajevo, the vibrant capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, boasts a population of 275,524 within its administrative limits. The wider Sarajevo metropolitan area, which includes Sarajevo Canton, East Sarajevo, and nearby municipalities, is home to 555,210 inhabitants.
Nestled in the Sarajevo valley and surrounded by the Dinaric Alps, the city is situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans. This strategic location has made Sarajevo the political, financial, social, and cultural epicenter of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a prominent cultural hub in the Balkans. The city has an influential presence in entertainment, media, fashion, and the arts, earning it the nicknames “Jerusalem of Europe” and “Jerusalem of the Balkans” due to its rich religious and cultural diversity. It is one of the few European cities where a mosque, Catholic church, Eastern Orthodox church, and synagogue stand in close proximity within the same neighborhood.
Sarajevo’s historical significance is underscored by its role as the home of the former Yugoslavia’s first institution of tertiary education, an Islamic polytechnic that is now part of the University of Sarajevo. Evidence of human settlement in the area dates back to prehistoric times, but the modern city emerged in the 15th century as an Ottoman stronghold during the Ottoman Empire’s expansion into Europe.
Throughout its history, Sarajevo has garnered international attention. In 1885, it became the first city in Europe and the second in the world, after San Francisco, to have a full-time electric tram network. The city’s global profile was further elevated in 1914 when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Young Bosnia movement, triggered World War I. This event ended Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and led to the formation of the multicultural Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Post-World War II, Sarajevo flourished as the capital of the Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The city saw rapid population growth and significant investment in infrastructure and economic development. The 1984 Winter Olympics, hosted in Sarajevo, marked a golden era for the city.
However, Sarajevo’s prosperity was shattered during the Bosnian War when it endured the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare history, lasting 1,425 days from April 1992 to February 1996. Despite this devastating period, Sarajevo has been undergoing extensive post-war reconstruction and has emerged as the fastest-growing city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The city’s resilience and charm have not gone unnoticed. Lonely Planet ranked Sarajevo as the 43rd best city in the world and recommended it as one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010. In 2011, Sarajevo was nominated as the 2014 European Capital of Culture and later hosted the European Youth Olympic Festival. In October 2019, Sarajevo was designated as a UNESCO Creative City for its commitment to placing culture at the center of its development strategies. The city is also recognized as one of the world’s eighteen Cities of Film.
Sarajevo’s unique blend of historical significance, cultural richness, and modern resilience makes it a fascinating destination and a testament to the enduring spirit of its people.
Leave a Reply