Kosančićev Venac Street

Kosančićev Venac is a historical neighborhood in Downtown Belgrade, part of the Savamala district. It spans from Kalemegdan park to Brankova street, and from the Cathedral to Brankov bridge and the Sava port. It is a preserved 19th (and early 20th) century urban neighborhood with cobblestone streets, beautiful houses and several larger and smaller staircases, two or three of them leading to Karađorđeva street and the Sava river front.

Most recognizable characteristic of the neighborhood is the cobblestone, which still covers several streets in the area, though it has been badly damaged due to the frequent communal and infrastructural repairs. Because of the cobblestone and vintage appearance, Kosančićev Venac is nicknamed jewel, or pearl, of Belgrade.

Several important early official buildings of Belgrade are located in the neighborhood:

– Princess Ljubica’s Residence (built 1829-31; officially a museum, section of the Museum of Belgrade),
– Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel (built 1837-40),
– Building of the Patriarchate (built 1932-35),
– Elementary School King Petar I (built 1905-07).

The neighborhood was declared an archaeological site in 1964, being located within the boundaries of the ancient Singidunum. In 1971 Kosančićev Venac was officially added to the Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance list, and in 1979 was named a Monument of Culture, as “it is the area of the oldest Serbian settlement, the first developed administrative, cultural, spiritual and economic center of the city with specific ambient qualities”. Appart from the central Kosančićev Venac street, protected area encompasses the streets of Srebrnička, Fruškogorska, Zadarska, Kralja Petra (lowere section), Pop-Lukina and Kneza Sime Markovića, and includes Cathedral Church , Princess Ljubica’s Residence, Patriarchal See, Elementary School King Petar I and the Kafana “?”.