Belgrade

Belgrade is a large and sprawling city situated on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The center of the city spreads over a high hill behind an ancient fortress that dates back to well before Roman times. Unfortunately the city has had a long and bitter history and having been destroyed over 100 times, not much of the old city remains - the oldest buildings (apart from the fortress) only date back to the early 19th century.

While the site of the city is superb and there are many attractive older buildings, most buildings are shabby and rundown and in desperate need of repair. When they are renovated they are superb. Added to this are grey nondescript constructions from the communists era and even today right in the heart of the city, there are bombed buildings from the NATO airstrikes of 199. All together this does not make a handsome cityscape.