Hello travelers, I hope you travel and explore amazing places. Ever since I bought a new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone, every day I am amazed by the photos I take and enjoy this new experience. In the previous post, I wrote about Andrićgrad, historical part of Višegrad town. After exploring its stone streets and corners, our walk continued towards one of the most iconic landmarks in the Balkans, the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge.
Built in the 16th century, the bridge was commissioned by Mehmed Paša Sokolović, one of the most influential statesmen of the Ottoman Empire.
Born in the region as a Serbian Orthodox boy who was later taken to Istanbul through the devshirme system, he rose to become Grand Vizier to three sultans. If I remember correctly words of the guide, he was born under the Serbian surname Nenadić. Despite his extraordinary career, he never forgot his roots, and this magnificent bridge over the Drina River remains his legacy, which the locals have been proud of for years.
The love for this monument is passed down from generation to generation.
This bridge inspired The Bridge on the Drina (Na Drini ćuprija), the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Ivo Andrić. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Once listed among the world's most endangered cultural monuments, it underwent extensive restoration supported by the government of Turkey, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
We strolled along the Drina, admiring the emerald-green water and browsing small souvenir shops filled with copper coffee pots, hand-crafted coffee pots, Turkish delight, and trays of fragrant baklava...
Our walk ended at a charming café called Terasa sa pogledom (terrace with a view), perched above the river.
Waiting below was our boat, ready to take us back to Serbia.
As we cruised along the Drina once more, the fading light and peaceful scenery provided the perfect ending to an unforgettable day.
Thank you for reading and have a great day!
Jelena