GENERAL FACTS ABOUT SERBIA

• National name: Srbija/Serbia
• Area: 88,361 sq km/34,116 sq mi
• Capital: Beograd/Belgrade
• Currency: Serbian dinar (RSD)
• Population: 7.120.666 (excluding Kosovo and Metohija)
• Language: Serbian and ethnic minority languages
• Religion: Serbian Orthodox; Roman Catholic; Muslim in southern Serbia
• Time difference: GMT +1
• Climate: Continental

HISTORY

 

After thearrivalof theSerbsin the Balkans in the 7th century,severalmedieval stateswere formed, which evolved into theSerbian Empirein the 14th century. By the 16th century, Serbia was conquered and occupied by theOttoman Empire, at times interrupted by theHabsburgs. In the early 19th century theSerbian revolutionre-established the country as the region's firstconstitutional monarchy, which subsequently expanded its territory and pioneered the abolition offeudalismin the Balkans.The former Habsburg crownland ofVojvodinaunited with Serbia in 1918. Following World War I, Serbia formedYugoslaviawith other South Slavic peoples which existed in several forms up until 2006, when Serbia regained its independence. In February 2008 the parliament of UNMIK-governedKosovo, Serbia's southern province, declared independence, with mixedresponses from international governments.

CLIMATE

In the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall in the mountains.

POPULATION

There are 7.565.761 inhabitants in Serbia (not counting Kosovo and Metochy). Serbs make 66% of the inhabitants, Albanians 17%, Hungarians 3.2% and then there are the Romanians, Romes, Slovakians, Croatians, Bulgarians, Turks, etc. The population is mostly of the Orthodox Christian faith. However, there are other religious communities: Islamic, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.

SERBIAN CUSINE

Serbian cuisineis sharing characteristics of the Balkans,the Mediterranean , Turkish, andCentral Europian(especiallyAustrianandHungarian) cuisines. Serbia has a lot to offer to hedonists and eating out to catch local flavors is an unforgettable experience and a highlight for many visitors. When spending time in Belgrade or elsewhere in Serbia, make sure you try the local dishes. Be aware though, if you are a vegetarian Serbia might not be the right place for you!

Local favorites are ćevapčići, pljeskavica, sarma ,podvarak, musaka, gibanica, proja (corn bread), etc. The famous home grown spirits are šljivovica (plum brandy) and lozovača (grape brandy).

LANGUAGE AND LETTER

In Serbia we use Serbian language of aecavic and iecavic pronunciation. It belongs to the group of south Slovenian languages and it is most similar to Bosnian, Croatian and Macedonian languages. A great number of our words are of a foreign origin, mostly Turkish and German, but today there are more and more anglicisms. Serbian language consists of 30 voices and two letters - Cyrillic and Latin characters. What makes it unique among other languages is a simple rule by which it is written and read: one letter for each voice and vice versa. You will mostly meet Latin characters, but the names of the streets and the information at the bus and railway stations and at post offices are written in Cyrillic. Therefore, it would be very useful if you learned the capital letters of Cyrillic, at least. Most of the young people speak English, less German, French and Russian, but Spanish and Italian are getting more and more popular, every day.