A weekend with nieces? Visiting a concert and spending a day at a fortress? It can't be a boring weekend, I assure you. I will bring some of the moments from the second day now to this post, and if you missed the first day (and just in case you want to see it) feel free to take a look here.
The excitement because of seeing and hearing that great pianist, Martha Argerich was huge. We were already happy and could say that the goal of why we were there was fulfilled. However, I didn't want to stay in Belgrade just for one day. The day before I rented out a small apartment for one day, so we can have all the needs covered. It was comfy, I slept well but woke up very early the next morning. Some birds had their morning chit-chat time under the window, which I left open... You guess, no alarm clock was needed. We got it for free!
The day started, we got ready for new adventures and went from New Belgrade to the bridge called Brankov Most (Branko's Bridge)
There is a tram station under the bridge. We waited a bit and the first tram came, but it was not the one we needed to reach our destination - Kalemegdan.
In good company, the time flies, so in a blink of an eye, our tram was there. This green one, with the number 11.
I usually commute by car, but using public transport in big cities is far better. No headaches around finding a parking lot, no losing time in traffic jams and it is also better for the city and the environment. Maybe it doesn't look like very tempting, it is an old type, but it was interesting to climb to Kalemegdan with this one.
Our ride was short, we left the tram at the station at the entrance of Kalemegdan park. The green tram continued its route, and we continued our adventure - but on foot!
The park, which is also called Kalemegdan has a lot of green areas. Trees and bushes, decorative flowers and a monument of gratitude to France. The views from the park are great, looking towards the new part of Belgrade, the river Sava and a bit further, the river Danube (the Sava flows into the Danube here)
The moment we left the park, we found ourselves on the Sava Promenade. I know, it is so cliché, to buy souvenirs in places like this, and indeed we skipped that part. But we could not resist buying ice cream... With the ice cream in our hands, our feet took the huge stairs that brought us to that lower part.
The walls of the fortress were getting higher and more serious, it was clear that we were getting closer to a very old place. Not that I know too much about the history of this fortress, but what I saw I liked a lot.
Passed this gate (King Gate), you make your steps into a world where you feel the ambience differently. It is heavier and some centuries older.
Not really sure what this object was, I ask my readers to forgive my ignorance. Though I found it pretty!
In the square, I saw the model representing the castle with the court of despot Stefan Lazarevic. It was built at the beginning of the fifteenth century and destroyed in 1690. Seems I know a bit of history? Well, it was written there, on that inscription.
The statue you see is a symbol of Belgrade. The Victor Monument was built at the beginning of the twentieth century. You could also see it in some previous photos, having a better view of it. But here, I liked the landscape. It was impressive, how the blue sky hosted those white and grey clouds.
It was getting more and more interesting. Reaching the inner fortification and its ruins boosted my exploring interests. I was checking out every little corner, and one paparazzi followed my steps. I didn't know my niece decided to record my silly behaviour :D
But, don't you think this place was worth visiting and playing there? Passing that gate (Defterdar Gate) and seeing the river? I surely did that, and once again, I was there...
... and shot by a young lady niece. You don't see me? Oh wait, look at the next one. I am indeed there!
This photo makes me laugh, as my dress wanted to fly with the wind, so it looks a bit strange in this photo. Better to observe just the river behind me.
What also impressed me were the names of the different parts of the fortress. Gates and towers, squares and churches. So, let's look at some of those names.
Inner Stambol Gate.
This is one of the four gates that Belgrade had. It received such name as the route that went here led to Istambul in Turkey. It has passages and side rooms, where some hopes and a museum are located nowadays. (if my memory doesn't fail me and it was in that gate...we passed through many gates :D )
Sahat Tower and Sahat Gate.
Its construction started in 1740, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian administration but it was finished and completed some fifty years later, then already under Turkish rule.
Zindan Gate
At the time we visited Kalemegdan (a few weeks ago) one of the towers of this gate was under reconstruction. We saw the signs that it is dangerous to pass through the gate as the rocks are falling. It would be a beautiful sight, but I am sorry, we have to see it with the scaffolding.
In the next photo, I shot just one of the towers, so we have a nicer view now! Behind this tower of the Zindan Gate, we see the roof of one church, which is our next stop.
The Church of the Virgin Ružica
The church you see in the next photo is not how it looked during the time of despot Stefan Lazarevic, as it was demolished by the Turks in 1521. Later, a same-named church was built, in the same place.
Me, observing it, and again the paparazzi niece following me:
There were so many other, smaller gates and paths, but to be honest I could just drop the photos but would not be able to name them. So my last stop today, in this weekend's report of visiting Belgrade and its fortification, we will stop at another gate, heading already back towards the park and city centre.
One side of the Despot's Gate, built at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
And the other side of it. One can easily imagine itself going back in time, to the historical events that happened several centuries ago. But I prefer the stories that are unsaid, that remained outside of the books and maybe just these walls and towers know.
We can try to build a story in our minds, each of us according to our own imagination. But first, we have to visit these places and feel the air. My niece had the pleasure to take one more photo of me, which will be the greeting from this post.
