Cultural sightseeing in Bosnia & Herzegovina

History buffs will be surely be amazed by Zemalskij Museum. It is a national museum in Sarajevo where you can see millions of interesting exhibits. Among them, there are Neolithic artifacts, medieval tombstones and art objects, ancient armor, a Jewish manuscript known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, stuffed bears, Bosnian, Serbian and Jewish folk costumes, and countless other treasures covering thousands of years of Bosnian history. The museum founded in 1888 is divided by three categories: archeology, natural history, and ethnography. Open every day except Monday. It is also recommended to visit the Sarajevo Tunnel converted into the Museum of War. In 1993, the tunnel was used for linking the city with the free territory behind the Sarajevo Airport. Here visitors will be shown a film about the Siege of Sarajevo and offered to explore numerous documents, photographs, uniforms, maps and military equipment of the time.

On the left bank of the Neretva River, on steep cliffs, is Počitelj - a village with soft stone houses and cobbled streets tracing its history from the 14th century. Tours of the village never leave foreigners indifferent: it is surrounded by high walls, and you can only get in through a gate topped by a 16-meter clock tower. Počitelj is interesting for its enchanting combination of Ottoman and medieval architecture, for which it is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Exquisite minarets of the Hajji Alija Mosque erected in 1562 were destroyed during the '90s Balkan Wars and subsequently restored. The mosque's terrace offers a breathtaking view of the rocky landscape.

Tourists engaged in spiritual quests are offered tours of Međugorje. This green town on the mountainside attracts Catholic pilgrims from all over the world. According to legend, Virgin Mary herself appeared here in the 80's. The Blue Cross stands at the foot of the hill, on which she was seen. Masses in Croatian and English are daily held in the Church of St. James and many other cathedrals, which can be freely visited by all comers. The main popular place of Catholic pilgrimage is the Apparition Hill rising near the Croatian border. That's where the Virgin Mary was first and repeatedly seen. The statue of the Mother of God was erected on top of the hill in her honor. The path to the top is rocky and steep, which may be difficult for inexperienced hikers, but it's definitely worth it - the view of the valley is truly fascinating. However, during and after the rain, climbing is dangerous - you can slip and get injured. In the summer, the best time to explore the hill is in the morning when it is still cool. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A tour of the Muslim Dervish Monastery is another way to plunge into the religious sense. Built in the 15th-16th centuries, the monastery stands under a sheer cliff on the banks of the Buna River. Even today monks conduct dervish ceremonies at the monastery. The monastery is open from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Here you can go on a boat trip awakening amazing sensations and allowing you to see the river in the twilight - its waters pass through caves.

A great place for those who prefer cultural pastime is the oldest National Theater. It is located on the Ban Kulin in Sarajevo where you can watch ballet, spectacles, and operas. Performances of local, regional, and international troupes take place here. Another remarkable National Theater is in the city of Zenica surrounded by mountains and hills. This theater built in the 50's has several awards and recognition for its fruitful work and artistic achievements, focusing on involvement in the modernity. The building houses 5 stages: big, small, side, and basement, as well as cabaret stages. This diversity allows the National Theater of Zenica to stage all kinds of performances - from ballet, drama, and opera to cabaret show and complex performances with the use of puppets and multimedia.

Every year Bosnia hosts musical festivals for cultural purposes. They include Sarajevo Evenings of Music, Demofest, Jazz Fest Sarajevo, and Baščaršija Nights.