Trg Republike is starting point of this tour, specifically monument to Knez Mihajlo, Serbian ruler from 1839 to 1842, and then again between 1860 and 1868 when he was assassinated.

Surrounding pedestrianized ares are full of very attractive patios.

In 1807, during the Austrian occupation, Aleksander Platz was the name for this section of the modern day Republic Square. The earliest recorded mention of the area is quite dreary, as an execution spot for local rebels. As you can see on the map above from 1878 square already existed except that it was expanded after 1949 when numerous older buildings were demolished.

Whole area is very cleverly planned and some of the oldest structures, that survived numerous destructions last one NATO bombing of Beograd in 1999, are blended perfectly with contemporary architecture. But look at the people in this street, beautiful, aren't they? That's a reall value of public spaces like this one.

The square is the last stop for all busses serving downtown Beograd. Its name refers to several buildings of Beograd University and the rectorate built in 1893. Other buildings are the Ethnographic museum, a few concert halls and a charming park on the spot where an old Turkish cemetery remained until 1860.

The square is connected to the main pedestrian area of the Knez Mihajlo street with very pleasant piazzetta called Plato. It was named Plato after one of the best bookstore in Beograd. Over time it become a cult place where famous writers, musicians and sometimes even politicians could be frequently found.

Plaza is incorporating few cafes, antique and second hand booksellers and remains of the Roman bath. Bath was excavated when the main structure of the square, building of the Belgrade University, School of Philosophy was built.

It was created by one of my favourite professors Arch. Sveltislav Licina in 1977. Monument to Petar II Petrovic Njegos philosopher and ruler of the neighbouring state of Montenegro is also on the Plato. Today it is main gathering space for the students of the nearby schools and book lovers in Belgrade and beyond.

Studentski Trg, oldest trg in Beograd. Along the street reproductions from the nearby National Musem are hang on the walls and street vendors are selling antic books. Delijska cesma [drinking water fountain] was reconstructed from the old photos and it is now fully functional and loved.

At the first block of the Knez Mihajlo street there is a passage called Spasicev Pasaz with special significance for me. For 20 years between 1960 and 1981 I used to live here. Most of my youth and teenage memories are connected to this downtown location. In 2001 underground area and surrounding inner yards are converted to shopping mall. Unbelievable underground space, used today for this shopping centre, belonged to the buildings that stud on this spot before being destroyed by German bombs at the beginning of the second world war. After the war new building was erected on the foundation of the old one.

Today this inner court, connecting busy street and main parking garage with pedestrianized area of the downtown is very busy day and night. Don't be fooled with the emptiness on this photo. This photos were taken on the very hot sunday morning. On the small photo right you can see original look of this passage when it was built in 1913 by rich Beograd's merchant Nikola Spasic. There is another story connecting this space with some of my memories and experiences around the world. If you are interested you can read it here on my psychographs site.

Spasicev Pasaz consisting of two building on opposite sides and connecting passage was built in 1913 by rich Beograd's merchant Nikola Spasic.

At the begining in 1960 it was popular corso [street for walking and meeting], then in 1970 when it was converted to the strictly pedestrian street it was meet with resistance and protests around delivery convenience and effect to the local bussines. In 1980 when very smart and atractive reconstruction started, after inital problems and disruptions, whole Beograd and visitors fell in love with it.

It is still expanding to the surrounding streets encouraged by everybody, and last visit in 2016 to the area confirmed that the expectation are fullfiled.

This should be a lecture, specially to the North American cities, how downtown can be revitalized by leaving it to pedestrians.