When you walk a little out of Başçarşı, the landscape of the city changes. Ferhadiye Street is a popular shopping district filled with chic but sometimes luxurious shops. Further on, Sarajevo Cathedral and slowly changing architecture catch your eye. The mosaic of religion and culture that makes Sarajevo this different starts to show itself.
I’m at Ilıca, another district in Sarajevo where you can reach with a lovely trip on the nostalgic tram. The reason that I’m here is Umut Tüneli (“The Tunnel of Hope”). This tunnel which was the only entrance and exit point during the three-and-a-half year siege that people of Sarajevo had to go through and which was dug by hand, is now open to visitors as a museum. At first, seeming like an ordinary house situated in a neighborhood filled with gardens where the songs of birds fill the air with joy on the outskirts of the city, this passage has become a “tunnel of life” where you can pass through the house and see a little part of it.
I finish my day by spending a few hours in Vrelo Bosnia Park situated near the mouth of Bosnia River where you can enjoy a walk on the tracks connecting the trees to the hills. Vrelo Bosnia, for which the tourists don’t spend too much time yet which could be a stopping point for those who’d like to have a calm and quiet time, resembles an oasis – a place you can reach by getting away from the crowds in Ilıca Square. In addition to Sarajevo’s blended historical texture and modern architecture, you won’t feel like a stranger here thanks to the friendly people and natural wonders. The mountains, the forests and the buildings that carry traces of the past have a lot to tell… Carrying the spirit of the era into today’s time, Sarajevo is beautiful in winter as well thanks to the visual feast it presents.
by Berrak Harman
(Source: skylife)
