Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cultural, sports and trade center in Sarajevo
Skenderija is a cultural, sports and trade centre on the south bank of the Miljacka in central Sarajevo, covering some 70,000 square metres with multipurpose halls for sport, concerts and exhibitions, an outdoor square and an underground shopping centre called Privredni grad (Trade City) with sweet shops, restaurants and cafés. It opened on 29 November 1969 with the premiere of the film The Battle of Neretva, at a time when the growing city needed an exhibition and sports centre, and quickly became known across Yugoslavia. It was expanded for the 1984 Winter Olympics. The name means Skender's place, after Skender Pasha, sanjak-bey of Bosnia, who in 1499 built Bosnia's first trading centre here, with eleven shops, and the first dervish lodge. The concrete building came through the war with little damage but later decayed from neglect, and the roof of one hall collapsed under the record snowfall of February 2012. The city restored it and it now welcomes around half a million visitors a year. Its venues include the Mirza Delibašić basketball hall, the Dom Mladih youth centre and the Ars Aevi contemporary art collection.
Check the events programme on the centre's website, as exhibitions, concerts and games change. It is next to the modern Festina Lente footbridge over the Miljacka and a short walk from the National Museum and Marijin Dvor. In winter it hosts indoor fairs and markets.
Hours and prices change — check before you go. Source: en.wikipedia.org
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AttractionSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
