Considering the historical and cultural heritage, present-day Sarajevo represents one of the potentially most attractive tourist destinations in Balkans, south-east Europe and Europe.For more than four hundred years, mosques, synagogues, orthodox and catholic churches have been built side by side. Citizens of different nationalities and denominations have lived and worked together, building the city and with it a common style of living, regardless of conquerors and decision making centres, which have changed faster or slower in the past, depending on the historical and geopolitical opportunities and interests at the time.
In our wish to demonstrate our value to the whole world, in 2014 we have erected a symbol – seal, a sign Sarajevo Meeting of Cultures. This authentic sign represents a place where cultures meet. It is a starting point for sightseeing, a tourist attraction – a single location that unites historical and cultural aspects of Sarajevo, and is located in Sarajevo near Gazi Husrev-bey’s Bezistan, i.e. Grand Courtyard. Geographically speaking (referring to cardinal directions), from the East it resembles an Ottoman trading town, while from the West, a modern western culture.
There are few cities whose past enabled the existence and development of such peculiar life as that which preserved in Sarajevo. Historiography’s pens have still not gone dry from writing and lamenting over historic facts, so as to explain the phenomenon called Sarajevo.
From whichever high point you look down upon Sarajevo, and from whichever direction you move, you will always intently believe that this city will forever be filled with wonders, and that everyone is always welcome here, because it values openness, togetherness, freedom and courage.
For this purpose we have selected ten gates which are desirable for every traveller to open, at least for those who feel a certain pull towards a city, whose name is known to a whole world. Sarajevo (from Turkish Saray – court, Ovasi – in the field). And those are: Gazi Husrev – Bey’s Waqf, The Old Orthodox Church, Old Jewish Temple, Latin Bridge, BrusaBezistan, Congregational Church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, City Hall, Svrzo’s House and Despić House.
All ten doors are worth opening because they will unravel stories of love and spite, meeting of cultures, a point connecting East and West, multi-religiosity and multiculturalism which not even wars could destroy.