Rubicon Travel doo, Beograd.ul.Vojvode Stepe br.146 tel: 011/41-41-676 011/41-41-511 fax:011/ 3981-676 Licenca OTP 12/2011.od 04.02.2011.Banca Intesa 160-339783-03 pib106656398 mb. 20653655. www.rubicontravel.rs ; e-mail: [email protected]

LATE MEDIEVAL -THE KINGDOM OF LAST SERBIAN DESPOTES / & CENTRAL SERBIA AT A GLANCE JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS • Discover the bustling city between the East and the West that never sleeps. • Travel through the valley of the Serbian river - Morava to meet Serbia of last Despotes and their mausolea spread across roses and lilacs. Be prepared to see some of the most beautiful churches of Byzantine cultural circle decorated with magnificent frescoes. • Enjoy one of the oldest and the most beautiful European Spa with mineral waters, home made food and gardens full of singing birds. Meet Serbia that will fascinate you!

1st day, Belgrade Arrival at Belgrade „“ airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Short break.

Walking tour of and the monumental fortress of Belgrade that lies on the of the and the rivers. Foundations of have been laid by the Roman Legia Flavia in the 1st century. It was rebuilt by Bizantines, Hungarians, Serbian kings and Despotes, Turks and Austrians. According to archeological excavations, the fortress contains 17 different layers, which is more than with any other fortified town in . Visit of two oldest Belgrade churches: St. Ruzica and St. Petka. Lunch at the „Kalemegdan terrace“ restaurant, where from one can admire the wonderful view of the confluence of the two rivers. From Kalemegdan we shall go to visit the Gallery of frescoes and the Sekulic Icon Gallery. Than we shell visit the Ethnographical Museum, situated merely 200 meters from the main fortress gate, to see one of the most beautiful permanent exhibitions of Serbian traditional costumes, vessels, jewellery, musical instruments and household utensils. Walk through - the main with many 19th century buildings. Descent to the princess Ljubica’s (summer residence that was build in the mid 19th century for the prince Miloš Obrenović s spouse). Today it is a museum with exceptional

collection of applied arts items from Turkish times to Bidermeier period, related to the Obrenović dynasty. Visit to the Belgrade that lies across the street and is a masterpiece of Classicist period and a burrial church of several Serbian rulers. Traditional Serbian coffee in the nearby „?“ („Question mark“) restaurant in the oldest part of Belgrade. The „?“ restaurant is situated in one of the oldest houses in Belgrade which is, as a cultural monument, protected by the state. The ambiance and the food of this restaurant provide the original atmosphere of the urban Balkan settlement from Turkish period.

Return to the hotel around 8 p.m. Rest. At 10 p.m. dinner with traditional music in Belgrade bohemian

quarter of in one of the resaurants. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

2nd day, fortress/ / Resavica / / Vrnjačka SPA Breakfast. Check out from the hotel and departure towards Smederevo (45 km). Smederevo is the city on Danube river with the largest existed plain fortress in Europe. It spread over 11.3 ha and contains remains of one of the most beautiful fortress in Europe that was buld in 1429. Visit of the of Smederevo. Coffe break in the city center. Departure toward near (80 km).

Resava / Manasija is a splendid burrial church built in the first half of the 15th century by one of the most brilliant rulers of Serbia, great worrior and subtile poet Despote Stephen Lazarevich. This monastery was the famous scriptoria where, during his reign, various manuscripts were translated, copied and illuminated. Despote, besides being one of the bravest man of his epoch, co-founder of the well known late mediaeval knights’ order of the Dragon was himself a scientist, a philosopher and a great poet, author of the unique early renaissanse poetry in . Manasija’s are very famous, announcing the beginning of the European Art. Lunch in the „Zubor vrela“ restaurant.

From Manasija we travel to Resavica coal mines, probably the most exotic Museum of mining in the SE Europe. In this museum one can find various collections of objects related to mining from Antiquity till the present times. Short coffee break. We continue than towards Ravanica, the foundation of the prince Lazar Hrebeljanović, one of the most legendary rulers of Serbia related to the myth. Its five domed church is one of the most beautiful buildings of Serbian 14th century art. We continue the journey to the Vrnjačka SPA. Accommodation. Free time. Dinner. Overnight.

3rd day, /Kalenić Breakfast. Departure for Ljubostinja Monastery (16 kms). Tour of the foundation church of princess Milica, spouse of prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and mother of the Despote Stephen. The church was build on the very spot where Lazar and Milica first met. In its ossuary Kosovo heroes’ are kept and princess Milica herself was buried as the nun Eudokia, after her husband’s death in Kosovo. The monastery is the nunnery and is well known after its wine and honey production.

From Ljubostinja we travel to Kalenić, the monastery from the beginning of the 15th century, one of the most beautiful buildings of that period. The church is the foundation of the nobleman Bogdan, Stephen Lazarević’s closest associate. There one can admire the famous Wedding in Cane scene , one of the best known frescos of Serbian medieval art, considered to be the forerunner of the Renaissance Art. Return to the Vrnjačka Spa. Free time. Dinner. Overnight.

4th day, Vrnjačka SPA / Belgrade airport

Breakfast. Check out. Journey to the Belgrade airport „Nikola Tesla“. Flight to your destination.

Price is subject to number of participants, period, chosen hotels category and availability.

Author: Cedomila Marinkovic, licensed guide

Contact: Rubicon travel d.o.o. , Vojvode Stepe 146 , 11000 Belgrade, Serbia tel: + 381 (0)11 4141 676, 4141 511 fax: + 381 (0)11 3981 676 [email protected] www.rubicontravel.rs