BALCÃS 2025 - DA SÉRVIA A ROMENIA

About the destination: Belgrade, a city with a tumultuous past, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It has been destroyed approximately sixty times, but has always managed to rebuild and regain its former glory. This city, known for its vibrant nightlife, has captivated many visitors over the years. Belgrade is situated at the junction of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the west meets the east, and socialist blocks are nestled among art nouveau masterpieces. The city's Habsburg heritage contrasts with its Ottoman relics. The largest portion of Belgrade's architectural, cultural, and historical heritage can be found in the old town, Stari Grad. The National Museum of Serbia, the Ethnographic Museum, and the city's most significant museum, the Residence of Princess Ljubica, are all located in the Old Town. Kalemegdan Fortress, Belgrade's premier attraction, is also located in the old town, overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. Kalemegdan is a vast park and fortress complex that offers plenty for those interested in ancient castle ruins or those who simply want to stroll and relax in a park. The park is filled with ruins, monuments, several museums, and a few other points of interest. Don't forget to check out the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, as well as the statue of Pobednik, one of Belgrade's symbols. Belgrade is a lively city with numerous bars, pubs, cafes, and other hangout spots. The city boasts a vibrant cultural life, with around 50 theaters, two major opera houses, numerous museums, galleries, literary evenings, cultural centers, and libraries. To top it all off, the people of Belgrade are incredibly friendly, welcoming, talkative, warm-hearted, and humorous. It's hard to feel like an outsider here, as you'll inevitably blend in and easily find company, even if you're not looking for it.

About the destination: Tirana is by far the largest city in Albania and its administrative, cultural, economic, and industrial center. Today, it is an interesting and fascinating city, with a lively nightlife. Tirana is where old and new Albania meet. There is an imposing Ottoman mosque and its towering minaret near Skanderbeg Square, the main square of Tirana. The construction of the Ethem Bey Mosque began in 1798 and was completed in 1821. Closed under the communist regime, the mosque reopened as a place of worship in 1991. Look at the frescoes outside and in the porch depicting trees, waterfalls, Ottoman houses, and bridges, motifs rarely seen in Islamic art. The center of Tirana is a delightful area of wide tree-lined avenues and large squares, populated by unforgettable brutalist architecture and sometimes extremely colorful. It also has some great examples of heroic and socialist realism, such as the huge mural on the facade of the National History Museum. Tirana is a fascinating city and the capital of a fascinating country. It is very relaxing, with friendly and hospitable people, some great restaurants, and a lively nightlife. You can practically see everything the city has to offer in a day or two, but it's a great place to start exploring nearby places, like Durres and Kruja.

About the destination: Skopje is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, serving as its political, cultural, economic, and academic hub. Despite being a relatively new city, Skopje showcases architectural innovation. It was a significant trade center during the Roman and Ottoman Empires, but was nearly entirely destroyed by a 1963 earthquake. Remnants of Skopje's history, along with its modern marvels, are worth exploring. Skopje is situated on the upper course of the Vardar River and serves as a crucial north-south Balkan route between Central Europe and Athens. A large fortress that overlooks the city dominates the skyline above the Old Town. The Kale Fortress, located at the city's highest point, overlooks the Vardar River. After the 1963 earthquake, only a few restored walls, the main gateway, and two towers remained. The current ruins date back to the 10th century expansion of the fort under Tsar Samoil. One of Skopje's most famous landmarks is the Kameni Most, or Stone Bridge. It spans the river in the city center near Macedonia Square and is a city symbol, appearing on the town crest. The Old Bazaar, or Carsija, is a fascinating part of the city and its oldest section. The Carsija is separated from the city by The Stone Bridge. During the day, it's a bustling community of craftsmen making leather, copper, and clothes, restaurants, cafes, and bars, and interesting cultural sites, including churches, mosques, and museums. In the evenings, the bars and restaurants are filled with patrons and live music is played. There's a large concentration of cafes along the river from Macedonia Square, which seem to be packed with incredibly stylish people dining and drinking. Affordable and surprisingly welcoming, Skopje is a city of diverse cultures and is definitely worth a visit.

About the destination: Sofia is a city with a bright future; it's the dynamic and resilient capital of Bulgaria that continues to embrace its unique characteristics as it evolves into a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan city. Encircled dramatically by the Balkan Mountains to the north and the Vitosha Mountains to the south, Sofia is situated on an open plain 550m above sea level in western Bulgaria. This contrast between urban expansion and natural beauty makes it an intriguing destination, offering more to captivate visitors than many other Eastern European capitals. Development is widespread and the roads are thankfully being upgraded. It features numerous boutique hotels and the brand new Metro lines and stations are enough to make Western visitors envious. Of course, the influence of Communism still lingers in the streets; the country's relatively brief occupation from 1945 to 1989 is still evident in its neo-Stalinist architecture. Despite this, most of Sofia’s major tourist attractions pre-date this period. Structures like the Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, the Central Sofia Synagogue, and the Banya Bashi mosque serve as stark reminders of the country’s multicultural history, while the charming UNESCO-listed Boyana Church in the Vitosha Mountains is an absolute must-see. Locals maintain a balance between Russian nonchalance and Mediterranean vibrancy and continue to be proud custodians of the country’s hospitable heritage. The Bulgarian language and Cyrillic alphabet continue to thrive, resisting the tourism industry's preference for English internationalism, which is not widely spoken outside of restaurants, shops, and hotels.

About the destination: Bucharest is a truly stunning city, showcasing an unlikely blend of various architectural styles; you can find Gothic and Greek Orthodox structures next to Stalinist monuments, which are neighbors to post-modern apartment buildings made of concrete and glass. Unlike other cities, the layout of the streets is not grid-like, but rather star-shaped, with streets radiating out from roundabouts, creating blocks of varying shapes. In the 1950s, Bucharest was referred to as Little Paris due to the French influence on the city's landscape and lifestyle. Remnants of this era can still be seen in the city center's architecture, the abundance of outdoor cafes, and even in the Arcul de Triumf, a smaller version of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Downtown Bucharest is defined by the area between Victoriei Square, where the Romanian Government is located, and Unirii Square, where the grand boulevard leading to the Parliament Palace begins. Near Unirii Square, you can also find the old city center, the Old Princely Court, and iconic streets like Lipscani, Selari, Covaci, Gabroveni. This area is home to a mix of mid-19th century buildings, ruins of the Wallachian princes' medieval court, churches, bank headquarters, a few hotels, clubs, restaurants, and shops. Narrow, cobblestone streets still bear the names of the ancient guilds that once resided there. The area has been largely renovated and is now a popular gathering spot for the city's younger generation. Revolution Square is a double square that houses the Romanian Athenaeum, the National Library, the Senate building, and the old Royal Palace, which is now the Museum of Art. A tall monument stands in the center of the square in memory of those who died during the revolution. Bucharest is a city of parks. Take a stroll through the well-maintained central Cişmigiu Garden or the expansive Herăstrău Park. For the residents of Bucharest, these parks are more than just escapes from the summer heat; they are the heart of much of the city's social life. You'll find elderly retirees, young couples, football fans, and backgammon and chess enthusiasts everywhere. Come join the fun.