Cities founded on the history

Located in northwest Serbia, Sremska Mitrovica lies next to the Srem and Macva (Mačva) plains in the foothills of Fruska Gora. Sremska Mitrovica is 74 km from Belgrade off the E70 highway.

Modern Sremska Mitrovica was once known as Sirmium, a prominent center of Christianity during the Roman era. Strategically located along several key roads on the shores of the Danube, the settlement flourished into a bustling center of culture and trade. Sirmium’s remarkable imperial palace featured heated floors and walls skillfully decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The palace complex also comprised of thermal baths, crop fields, residential areas and forts. The tsar-philosopher Marcus Aurelius died here.

Though you can see some remnants of Sirmium’s grandeur if you visit modern Sremska Mitrovica, a large part of the ancient town remains underground. You will find the most interesting excavations at Nikola Pasic Square in the city center and on the corner of Pivarska and Branko Radicevic streets.

The Nicola Pasic square, once known as Grain Square (Žitni trg), is adorned with several beautifully crafted 19^th century tradesmen homes. Some of the homes feature German-style semi-circular gables, a testament to the influence of the Hapsburg Empire here. The Ottomans built the modest St. Stefan church close to the square in the 16^th century. Its small wooden tower was added much later.

The Srem district museum comprises two complexes in Sremska Mitrovica. The Pinki Sreet annex across from the Sirmium Hotel exhibits icons and paintings from the last three centuries. The second annex on St. Stefan Street features a collection of Roman artifacts. Right next to the museum, the 1792 Royal House is Sremska Mitrovica’s oldest building.

ACTIVITIES

If you are looking for some green space, head to the Zasavica nature reserve just outside of Sremska Mitrovica. The reserve on the Sava River comprises of preserved swamps, a forest featuring a wide range of flora and fauna, and a variety of bird and insect species.

SID

Sid is located in southwest Vojvodina 86 km from Belgrade off the E70 highway. If you are driving you will see the Common Grave of the Fallen Fighters on the Srem Front (1944-1945) just off the main road.

For many people in Serbia, Sava Sumanovic comes to mind when they think of Sid.  Sumanovic was one of the most renowned artists of Serbian Modernism. His atelier and gallery, which feature more than 400 of his works, are located on St. Sava Street (ulica Sv. Save). Explore further, and you will also find the Ilianum Naïve Art Museum in the town center.

Just outside of Sid you will find the Privina glava monastery, the Molovin village church famous for its iconostas, and the Vorov, Vranjak and Morovic hunting grounds.

Sid abounds with scenic landscapes. In fact, a majority of the municipality’s 69,800ha comprise of fertile fields and lush forests.

RARE SPECIES

The Zasavica nature reserve is home to a variety of endangered fish, including mud minnow, whitebait, rudd and carp. Along with other fauna, including the Balkan amphibian, the unusual Danube crested newt, and indigenous otters and wild cats, more that 180 bird species live here. The European beaver resurfaced in Zasavica just a few years ago. The Podolian Bull and Mangulica, a rare species of pig, are bred in the pastures surrounding Zasavica.

When in Sremska Mitrovica and Sid, we recommend:

– A visit to the Roman era Imperial Palace excavation site in Sremska Mitrovica

– A visit to the Zasavica nature reserve

– A visit to the gallery and atelier of Sava Sumanovic, the renowned Serbian artist

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