There is little dispute that Smederevo in Serbia is an undisputed gem. With a rich history that goes back as far as Roman times and a delightfully pleasant climate all year round, Serbia’s medieval grape and wine capital is a place that’s just full of opportunities.
Set on a beautiful plateau, where the great Danube River meets the River Jezaya, Smederevo is a blissfully romantic setting just 40 km away from Serbia’s present capital Belgrade, well within reach.
The recorded history of Smederevo dates back to the 1st century BC, and the time of Roman conquest – initially the town was known as Vinceia.
The town remained a provincial backwater for many centuries, until its character was completely transformed by the despotic Serbian King Djuradj Brankovic in the 15th century, who chose Smederevo to be his capital city and place of residence after Belgrade was lost to the Hungarian Empire.
Needing a spectacular capital, one which was easy to defend from attack, Brankovic set about building the imposing Smederevo Fortress and fortifying the rest of the city.
The fortress, completed in 1430, is a real architectural gem, and to this day is considered one of the greatest ever achievements of the Serbian military.
But there is much more to the city than just its fortress – so much more. One of the most popular landmarks for visitors is the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, a beautiful 15th century structure that is just as imposing as the fortress in its own, special way.
Further sights include Karadjordje’s Mulberry Tree, where it is said that Murarem Gusa, the Turkish commander of Smederevo Fortress handed over the keys of the city to Karađorđe Petrović, who had led a successful uprising against Ottoman Rule in 1804. The tree remains one of Serbia’s most important symbols of freedom to this day.
As well as the historical sites, Smederevo is also famous for its vineyards. Known as the “City of Grapes and Wine”, it takes full advantage of its perfect climate to produce some excellent wine varieties, while honoring its wine tradition with dozens of artistic events and festivals throughout the year.
Many tourists come to Smederevo and instantly fall in love with its wonderful medieval charm – we’d wager that you’ll most likely fall in love with it too :)
