A visit to Kraljevo and Zica Monastery

Hello everyone, how are you?

When I get tired of the fast-paced life in the big city, I like to take a break in a smaller place and regain my energy, away from the crowds. That is why last weekend I visited Kraljevo, "a royal city" in central Serbia.

Kraljevo is a city where 7 Serbian medieval kings were crowned. That is why it is called Kraljevo (the king is "kralj" in Serbian). It is often said that this city is the heart of Serbia because of its position. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Ibar and West Morava so in addition to its interesting history, it offers tourists the opportunity to relax in a quiet environment by the river.

Kraljevo is recognizable by its wide city square and streets that intersect at right angles. In the central part of the square, there is a monument to the warrior that everyone knows by the name "Milutin", but I'm not sure if it's his real or fictitious name. But what I am sure of, this is a well-known gathering place, "near Milutin". 🙂

In the city center, next to the square, there is a long street walking zone with many cafes, restaurants, pastry shops...

Specific facades testify to the royal time of this city, as well as many museums.

The mural of three famous Serbian actors on the wall of the cinema attracted my attention.

The famous Serbian cultural and artistic association "Abrasevic" is located in Kraljevo. It has existed for 92 years as the oldest cultural institution in the King's Society.

I took the opportunity to take a photo with folk dancers in traditional costumes. 🙂

After walking through the city, I went down to the bank of the River Ibar. I was throwing pebbles into the water and enjoyed the peace and silence. We should give ourselves relaxing moments like these more often.

Along the coast, there are sports fields, an athletic stadium, a swimming pool, and several raft restaurants.

Before I walked around the city I had visited the Orthodox monastery - Zica (Žiča). It is one of the few medieval monasteries in the vicinity of Kraljevo where Serbian kings were crowned. This monastery has an authentic red facade.

There are many stories and legends about this place, and a story that is interesting to me says that in Zica, a new door was opened for every king, through which only he passed. When the king passed through the door, that door would be walled up immediately afterward. The walled door can still be seen today so this story was most likely a true story.

The walls of the monastery are 8 centuries old and it is fascinating to touch them and feel the spirit of the old royal time and the incredible peace that is difficult to describe in words.

The monastery is located in a beautiful natural environment where you can enjoy the shade of trees. The monks have their garden where they grow plants.

After visiting this place, you will feel calm, and we often need silence and serenity. On the way back, I bought a traditional cake from the city of Kraljevo called "sham roll". This cake is very simple but very tasty. It is a roll of dough filled with egg white cream and whipped cream. Because of this cake, I always return to Kraljevo. 🙂

Thank you very much for reading.

The images and writing are original and mine.

Greetings!

Jelena