When in the south, be a southerner! Known as the birthplace of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, Niš is an unmissable gem of archaeology, history, culture and gastronomy.
Hospitable and cheerful, Niš will take you through several eras in one breath with its rich history and touching monuments. Start your visit in Medijana, a late antiquity settlement on the left side of the Nišava river, built during the reign of Constantine and his successors. Tired of the noisy and overcrowded city in the 4th century, rich Romans moved to this luxurious suburb of Niš, where you can see the remains of a luxurious villa with a peristyle, two early Christian churches and more than 1000 square metres of valuable floor mosaics.
On the way to the city centre, you can see the Ćele Kula, or the skull tower, a unique monument in the world built from the Serbian warriors’ skulls after the Battle of Čegar. The tower was built on the orders of the Ottoman city commander of the time to deter the local population from further rebellions against the Sultan.
Once in town, take a stroll through the impressive 18th-century Niš fortress, where you can see a Turkish bath, a mosque, a lapidarium with Roman tombstones, and a gunpowder warehouse. Now it is time for refreshment! Kazandžijsko sokače will take you back in time and the gourmet food available here will provide perfect refreshment. Once filled with clinking barrel hoops, coffee pots and brandy cauldrons, and now with murmuring visitors, this colourful street will give you the best impression of the city pulse. One meal will be enough to make you fall in love with Niš gastronomy, an unusual mix of Serbian traditional dishes and numerous eastern influences. Whether you like meat or vegetable dishes, fresh ingredients will make their flavours unforgettable. After ćevapčići or a bean dish called “Tavče na gravče”, it’s time to immerse yourself in the nightlife of Niš. Like all southerners, people from Niš are warm, hospitable people with a bohemian spirit who enjoy singing and having a good time. From traditional taverns with live music to modern bars and clubs, Niš offers something for everyone.
See you in Niš!
Interesting fact: The terrifying Ćele Kula, built of human skulls, is a unique structure in the world.