{"id":1412,"date":"2024-01-30T01:42:52","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/?page_id=1412"},"modified":"2024-01-30T01:43:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T00:43:45","slug":"mostar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/it\/mostar\/","title":{"rendered":"Mostar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Mostar
Mostar Free Tour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mostar Free Tour<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostar<\/strong> (Serbian Cyrillic<\/a>: \u041c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440, pronounced [m\u01d2sta\u02d0r]<\/a> <\/a>\u24d8<\/a><\/sup>[a]<\/a><\/sup>) is a city and the administrative center of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton<\/a> of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a>, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a>,[6]<\/a><\/sup> and the historical capital of Herzegovina<\/a>.[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostar is situated on the Neretva River<\/a> and is the fifth-largest city in the country.[8]<\/a><\/sup> Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (mostari<\/em>) who guarded the Stari Most<\/a> (Old Bridge) over the Neretva during the Ottoman<\/a> era.[9]<\/a><\/sup> The Old Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a>,[10]<\/a><\/sup> commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent<\/a> in the 16th century, is one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most visited landmarks, and is considered an exemplary piece of Islamic architecture<\/a> in the Balkans<\/a>.[11]<\/a><\/sup>[12]<\/a><\/sup>[13]<\/a><\/sup>[14]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ancient and medieval history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Human settlements on the river Neretva, between Mount Hum<\/a> and the Vele\u017e Mountain<\/a>, have existed since prehistory, as witnessed by discoveries of fortified enceintes and cemeteries. Evidence of Roman<\/a> occupation was discovered beneath the present town.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far as medieval Mostar goes, although the Christian basilicas of late antiquity remained in use, few historical sources were preserved and not much is known about this period. The name of Mostar was first mentioned in a document dating from 1474, taking its name from the bridge-keepers (mostari<\/em>); this refers to the existence of a wooden bridge from the market on the left bank of the river which was used by traders, soldiers, and other travelers. During this time it was also the seat of a kadiluk<\/a> (district with a regional judge). Since Mostar was on the trade route between the Adriatic<\/a> and the mineral-rich regions of central Bosnia<\/a>, the settlement began to spread to the right bank of the river.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to 1474 the names of two towns appear in medieval historical sources, along with their later medieval territories and properties \u2013 the towns of Neboj\u0161a and Cimski grad. In the early 15th century the county (\u017eupa<\/a><\/em>) of Ve\u010denike covered the site of the present-day Mostar along the right bank of the Neretva, including the sites of Zahum, Cim<\/a>, Ili\u0107i<\/a>, Ra\u0161tani<\/a> and Vojno<\/a>. It was at the center of this area, which in 1408 belonged to Radivojevi\u0107<\/a>, who built Cim Fort (prior to 1443). Mostar is indirectly referred to in a 1454 charter of King Alfonso V of Aragon<\/a> as Pons<\/em> (“bridge”), for a bridge had already been built there. Prior to 1444, the Neboj\u0161a Tower was built on the left bank of the Neretva, which belonged to the late medieval county still known as Ve\u010denike or Ve\u010deri\u0107.[15]<\/a><\/sup> The earliest documentary reference to Mostar as a settlement dates from 3 April 1452, when Ragusans<\/a> from Dubrovnik<\/a> wrote to their fellow countrymen in the service of Serbian Despot \u0110or\u0111e Brankovi\u0107<\/a> to say that Vladislav Hercegovi\u0107<\/a> had turned against his father Stjepan<\/a> and occupied the town of Blagaj<\/a> and other places, including \u201cDuo Castelli al ponte de Neretua.\u201d<\/em>.[16]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ottoman period<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1468 the region came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire<\/a>[16]<\/a><\/sup> and the urbanization<\/a> of the settlement began. It was named K\u00f6pr\u00fchisar<\/em>, meaning fortress at the bridge, at the centre of which was a cluster of 15 houses. The town was organized into two distinct areas: \u010dar\u0161ija<\/a><\/em>, the crafts and commercial centre of the settlement, and mahala<\/a><\/em> or a residential area.[17]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The town was fortified between the years 1520 and 1566, and the wooden bridge rebuilt in stone.[10]<\/a><\/sup> In 1519 (Hijri<\/a> 925) the settlement was recorded as a castle and both as Mostar and as K\u00f6pr\u00fchisar and it was inhabited by Muslims and Christians. It had four Muslim households and 85 Christian households.[18]<\/a><\/sup> The stone bridge, the Old Bridge<\/a> (Stari most<\/em>), was erected in 1566 on the orders of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent<\/a>[19]<\/a><\/sup> and at 28 m (92 ft) long and 20 m (66 ft) high, quickly became a wonder in its own time. Later becoming the city’s symbol, the Old Bridge was designed by Mimar Hayruddin<\/a>,[13]<\/a><\/sup> a student and apprentice of Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan<\/a>. In the late 16th century, K\u00f6pr\u00fchisar was one of the towns of the Sanjak of Herzegovina<\/a>. The traveler Evliya \u00c7elebi<\/a> wrote in the 17th century that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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the bridge is like a rainbow arch soaring up to the skies, extending from one cliff to the other… I, a poor and miserable servant of Allah, have passed through 16 countries, but I have never seen such a high bridge. It is thrown from rock to rock as high as the sky.[20]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The first church in the city of Mostar, a Serbian Orthodox Church<\/a>, was built in 1834 during Ottoman rule.[21]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Austrian and Yugoslav period<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Austria-Hungary<\/a> took control over Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> in 1878 and ruled the region until the aftermath of World War I<\/a> in 1918, when it became part of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs<\/a> and then Yugoslavia<\/a>. During this period, Mostar was the main urban centre of Herzegovina<\/a>.[22]<\/a><\/sup> In 1881 the town became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mostar-Duvno<\/a> and in 1939, it became a part of the Banovina of Croatia<\/a>. During World War II<\/a>, Mostar was also annexed city in the Nazi German<\/a> fascist<\/a> puppet state<\/a>, the Independent State of Croatia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the period of Austro-Hungarian rule (1878\u20131918), Mostar’s city council cooperated with the Austro-Hungarian administration to implement sweeping reforms in city planning: broad avenues and an urban grid were imposed on the western bank of the Neretva, and significant investments were made in infrastructure, communications and housing. City administrators like Mustafa Mujaga Komadina<\/a> were central players in these transformations, which facilitated growth and linked the eastern and western banks of the city. Noteworthy examples of Austro-Hungarian architecture include Hotel Neretva<\/a>, the Municipality building, which was designed by the architect Josip Vanca\u0161<\/a> from Sarajevo<\/a>, residential districts around the Rondo, and Gimnazija Mostar<\/a> from 1902 designed by Franti\u0161ek Bla\u017eek<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After World War II, Mostar developed industries producing plastics<\/a>, tobacco<\/a>, bauxite<\/a>, wine<\/a>, aircraft<\/a> and aluminium<\/a>. Several dams<\/a> (Grabovica<\/em>, Salakovac<\/em>, Mostar<\/em>) were built in the region to harness the hydroelectric power<\/a> of the Neretva. The city was a major industrial and tourist center and prospered economically during the time of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between 1948 and 1974 the industrial base was expanded with construction of a metal-working<\/a> factory, cotton textile mills<\/a>, and an aluminum plant. Skilled workers, both men and women, entered the work force and the social and demographic profile of the city was broadened dramatically; between 1945 and 1980, Mostar’s population grew from 18,000 to 100,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because Mostar’s eastern bank was burdened by inadequate infrastructure, the city expanded on the western bank with the construction of large residential blocks. Local architects favored an austere modernist<\/a> aesthetic, prefabrication and repetitive modules. Commercial buildings in the functionalist<\/a> style appeared on the historic eastern side of the city as well, replacing more intimate timber constructions that had survived since Ottoman times. In the 1970s and 1980s, a healthy local economy fueled by foreign investment spurred recognition and conservation of the city’s cultural heritage. An economically sustainable plan to preserve the old town of Mostar was implemented by the municipality, which drew thousands of tourists from the Adriatic coast and invigorated the economy of the city. The results of this ten-year project earned Mostar an Aga Khan Award for Architecture<\/a> in 1986.[23]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the 1991 census<\/a>, Mostar had 127,000 inhabitants with roughly an equal number of Bosniaks<\/a> (34.6%) and Croats<\/a> (34%), 18.8% Serbs<\/a>, and 13.6% of those who declared themselves Yugoslavs<\/a> or Others.[24]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bosnian War<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence<\/a> from Yugoslavia in April 1992, the town was besieged<\/a> by the Yugoslav People’s Army<\/a> (JNA), following clashes between the JNA and Croat forces. The Croats were organized into the Croatian Defence Council<\/a> (HVO)[25]<\/a><\/sup> and were joined by a sizable number of Bosniaks.[26]<\/a><\/sup> The JNA artillery periodically shelled neighbourhoods outside of their control from early April.[27]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 7 June the Croatian Army<\/a> (HV) launched an offensive code named Operation Jackal<\/a>, the objective of which was to relieve Mostar and break the JNA siege of Dubrovnik<\/a>. The offensive was supported by the HVO, which attacked the Army of Republika Srpska<\/a> (VRS) positions around Mostar. By 12 June the HVO secured the western part of the city and by 21 June the VRS was completely pushed out from the eastern part. Numerous religious buildings and most of the city’s bridges were destroyed or severely damaged during the fighting.[27]<\/a><\/sup> Among them were the Catholic<\/a> Cathedral of Mary, Mother of the Church<\/a>, the Franciscan<\/a> Church and Monastery, the Bishop’s Palace and 12 out of 14 mosques in the city. After the VRS was pushed from the city, the Serbian Orthodox<\/a> \u017ditomisli\u0107 Monastery<\/a> and the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity<\/a> were demolished.[28]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout late 1992, tensions between Croats and Bosniaks increased in Mostar. In early 1993 the Croat\u2013Bosniak War<\/a> escalated and by mid-April 1993 Mostar had become a divided city with the western part dominated by HVO forces and the eastern part controlled by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a> (ARBiH).[29]<\/a><\/sup> Fighting broke out in May when both sides of the city came under intense artillery fire.[30]<\/a><\/sup> The city was divided along ethnic lines, with a number of offensives taking place, resulting in a series of stalemates.[31]<\/a><\/sup>[32]<\/a><\/sup>[33]<\/a><\/sup> The Croat\u2013Bosniak conflict ended with the signing of the Washington Agreement<\/a> in 1994, and the Bosnian War ended with the Dayton Agreement<\/a> in 1995. Around 2,000 people died in Mostar during the war.[34]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two wars (Serb forces versus Bosniak and Croatian and Croat-Bosniak war) left Mostar physically devastated and ethno-territorially divided between a Croat-majority west bank (with ca. 55,000 residents) and a Bosniak-majority old City and east bank (with ca. 50,000 residents), with the frontline running parallel to the Neretva River. Most Serbs had fled the city.[35]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-war developments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since the end of the wider war in 1995, great progress has been made in the reconstruction of the city of Mostar. Over 15 million dollars has been spent on restoration.[citation needed<\/a><\/em>]<\/sup> A monumental project to rebuild the Old Bridge, which was destroyed during the Bosnian War<\/a>, to the original design, and restore surrounding structures and historic neighbourhoods was initiated in 1999 and mostly completed by spring 2004. The money for this reconstruction was donated by Spain<\/a>[citation needed<\/a><\/em>]<\/sup> (who had a sizable contingent of peacekeeping troops stationed in the surrounding area during the conflict), the United States<\/a>, Turkey<\/a>, Italy<\/a>, the Netherlands<\/a>, and Croatia<\/a>. A grand opening was held on 23 July 2004 under heavy security. In parallel, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture<\/a> and the World Monuments Fund<\/a>, with funding provided by the World Bank<\/a>, undertook a five-year-long restoration and rehabilitation effort to regenerate the most significant areas of historic Mostar, and particularly the urban tissue around the Old Bridge. Also in July 2004, the Stari Grad Agency was launched to operate and maintain the restored buildings, including the Old Bridge complex, and promote Mostar as a cultural and tourist destination.[36]<\/a><\/sup> In July 2005, UNESCO<\/a> inscribed the Old Bridge and its closest vicinity onto the World Heritage List<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International reconstruction efforts also aimed at the reunification of the divided city. The February 1996 Mostar Agreement led to the adoption of the Interim Statute of the city the same month, and to a 1-year period of EU Administration of Mostar (EUAM), headed by former Bremen<\/a> mayor Hans Koschnick<\/a>, till early 1997.[37]<\/a><\/sup> After six years of implementation, in 2003 OHR<\/a> Paddy Ashdown<\/a> established an “international commission for reforming Mostar”, whose final report noted how the HDZ\/SDA power-sharing in Mostar had entrenched division and corruption, with “rampant parallelism” in administrative structures and usurpation of power by the municipalities over the City.[24]<\/a><\/sup>:\u200a5\u200a<\/sup> A new Statute was negotiated, and finally imposed in February 2004 by OHR<\/a> Paddy Ashdown<\/a>.[24]<\/a><\/sup>:\u200a6\u200a<\/sup> In November 2010, the Constitutional Court<\/a> struck down as discriminatory the electoral framework for Mostar. The Bosniak and Croat ruling parties were unable, however, to reach a new compromise. Lacking a legal basis, local elections could not take place in Mostar in 2012<\/a> and 2016<\/a>, and outgoing mayor Ljubo Be\u0161li\u0107<\/a> (HDZ BiH) remained in office as the only person authorised to allocate the city budget on an emergency basis. Almost a decade without administration led to a decline in service provision, including trash collection. In October 2019 Irma Baralija<\/a> won a case against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the European Court of Human Rights<\/a> for the lack of elections in Mostar. Finally, a political deal, agreed under international mediation in June 2020, enabled legislative amendments in July 2020 and the conduct of the vote in Mostar on 20 December 2020.[38]<\/a><\/sup>[39]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Architecture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Main article: Architecture of Mostar<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostar has architecturally noteworthy buildings in a wide range of styles. Historicist<\/a> architectural styles reflected cosmopolitan<\/a> interest and exposure to foreign aesthetic trends and were artfully merged with indigenous styles.[40]<\/a><\/sup> Examples include the Italianate Franciscan church, the Ottoman Muslibegovi\u0107a house<\/a>, the Dalmatian \u0106orovi\u0107 House<\/a> and an Orthodox church<\/a> which was built as gift from the Sultan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ottomans used monumental architecture to affirm, extend and consolidate their colonial holdings. Administrators and bureaucrats \u2013 many of them indigenous people who converted from Christianity to Islam<\/a> \u2013 founded mosque<\/a> complexes that generally included Koranic<\/a> schools, soup kitchens or markets.[23]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out of the thirteen original mosques dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, seven have been lost during the 20th century for ideological reasons or by bombardment. One of the two 19th-century Orthodox churches has also disappeared, while the early 20th-century synagogue<\/a>, after suffering severe damage in the World War II<\/a>, has been converted into a theatre. Several Ottoman inns also survived, along with other buildings from this period of Mostar’s history, such as fountains and schools.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of administrative buildings are from the Austro-Hungarian period and have neoclassical<\/a> and Secessionist<\/a> characteristics. A number of surviving late Ottoman houses demonstrate the component features of this form of domestic architecture \u2013 upper storey for residential use, hall, paved courtyard, and verandah on one or two storeys. The later 19th-century residential houses are predominantly in neoclassical style.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A number of early trading and craft buildings still exist, notably some low shops in wood or stone, stone storehouses, and a group of former tanneries round an open courtyard. Once again, the 19th-century commercial buildings are predominantly neoclassical. A number of elements of the early fortifications are visible. Namely the Hercegusa Tower dating from the medieval period, whereas the Ottoman defence edifices are represented by the Halebinovka and Tara Towers \u2013 the watchtowers on the ends of the Old Bridge, and a stretch of the ramparts.[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest single arch stone bridge in Mostar, the Kriva Cuprija (“Sloping Bridge”)<\/a>, was built in 1558 by the Ottoman architect Cejvan Kethoda. It is said that this was to be a test before the major construction of the Stari Most began. The Old Bridge was completed in 1566 and was hailed as one of the greatest architectural achievement in the Ottoman controlled Balkans<\/a>. This single-arch stone bridge is an exact replica of the original bridge that stood for over 400 years and that was designed by Hajrudin, a student of the great Ottoman architect Sinan. It spans 28.7 m (94 ft) of the Neretva river, 21 m (69 ft) above the summer water level. The Halebija and Tara towers have always housed the guardians of the bridge and during Ottoman times were also used as storehouses for ammunition. The arch is a perfect semicircle 8.56 m (28.1 ft) in width and 4.15 m (13.6 ft) in height. The frontage and vault are made of regular stone cubes incorporated into the horizontal layers all along the vault. The space between vault, frontal walls and footpath is filled with cracked stone. The bridge footpath and the approaching roads are paved with cobblestones, as is the case with the main roads in the town. Stone steps enable people to ascend to the bridge either side. During the armed conflict between Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats in the Bosnian War in the 1990s, the bridge<\/a> was destroyed by the HVO (Croatian Defence Council).[41]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cejvan Cehaj Mosque, built in 1552, is the oldest mosque in Mostar. Later a madrasa<\/a> (Islamic school) was built on the same compound. The Old Bazaar, Kujundziluk is named after the goldsmiths who traditionally created and sold their wares on this street, and still sells authentic paintings and copper or bronze carvings of the Stari Most, pomegranates (the natural symbol of Herzegovina) or the ste\u0107aks<\/a> (medieval tombstones).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Koski Mehmed Pa\u0161a Mosque, built in 1617 is open to visitors. Visitors may enter the mosque and take photos free of charge. The minaret<\/a> is also open to the public and is accessible from inside the mosque. Just around the corner from the mosque is the Tepa Market. This has been a busy marketplace since Ottoman times. It now sells mostly fresh produce grown in Herzegovina and, when in season, the figs and pomegranates are extremely popular. Local honey is also a prominent specialty, being produced all around Herzegovina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Magazine Most<\/a>, along with \u0160anti\u0107<\/a>‘s Poetry Evenings, was most important outlet for cultural and artistic production in the city and the region, offering space for upstart poets and writers.[42]<\/a><\/sup>[43]<\/a><\/sup> Dani Matice Hrvatske is one of city’s significant cultural events and it is commonly sponsored by the Croatian Government<\/a> and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/a>. Mostar Summer is another umbrella event which includes \u0160anti\u0107 Poetry Evenings, Mostar Summer Festival and Festival of Bosnia and Herzegovina choirs\/ensembles. The city is a home of music festival named Melodije Mostara<\/a> (Mostar Melodies), which has been held annually since 1995. Theatre festivals include Mostarska Liska<\/a> (organized by the National Theatre Mostar<\/a>) and The Mostar Spring (organized by the Matica hrvatska<\/a> Mostar).[44]<\/a><\/sup>[45]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostar art institutions include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n