Some locals remember the devastating bombardment of the original white limestone Stari Most bridge in 1993, which has, since then, become an iconic image of the Balkan conflict. Now rebuilt, the bridge is the historic heart of Mostar’s old centre . Its historical significance lies in the fierce ethnic unrest between the Croats and Bosniaks. Those troubled times are now eerily echoed by its silently divided population, as well as its haunting piles of rubble.

Mostar, named after the arched bridge, lies entrenched in the Neretva river valley. The city’s stacked melange of Eastern and Western architecture contrasts splendidly with the undulating hills and the emerald river. The rounded roofs of Mostar’s mosques bask in the sun and the Franciscan clock tower dwarfs the steeply-mounted stone arches, whilst the red and white facades of the Old Bazaar provide a quirky edge. The Ottoman-inspired old town, with its sprawling steps and tucked coppersmiths puts on a brave face despite its civic fragility, and displays its tormented past proudly.

Read more about this.

Written by  Caroline Podsiad.

Add comment

Comments, reviews and questions