Niš is one of the oldest cities in Europe, known as “the east/west gateway” which connects Europe with the Middle East. Some of the most interesting sights well worth visiting are the following:
Banovina
Banovina building is located on the right bank of the Nišava, close to the entrance to the Fortress. It was built in 1889 for Niš County Administration.
At the beginning of World War One, from 26 July 1914 till 16 October 1915, Niš was the “war capital of Serbia” and this building housed the Serbian Government and Foreign Ministry. On Tuesday, 28 July 1914 the official declaration of war to Serbia by Austro-Hungary arrived here, in a manner unprecedented in diplomatic relations – via a telegram. It was received by the Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Pašić. The building got its present look in 1935. After World War Two it was the municipal seat, while since 1966 the building has been the seat of the University of Niš.
The Fortress
Niš Fortress is located in the centre of the city, on the bank of the Nišava River. It is one of the best preserved and most beautiful medieval fortresses in the central Balkans. It was destroyed and restored many times, by the Romans, the Byzantines, Slavs, Bulgarians, and Serbs. It got its final shape in 1723, when the Turks built it, facing the end of their reign in this area.
Tinkers Alley
Tinkers’ Alley is located in Kopitareva Street. It is the only part of the commercial district of old Niš that has been preserved. According to the urban planning document of March 1878, this place was the location of “Sagr Cincar Mahalla”. Since the Turkish word “sagr” means a craftsman, in the age of the Turks this part of Niš was a craftsman’s quarter, and the most prominent craft was tinsmithing. Today, this old but well preserved ambience is home to numerous fine restaurants and cafés.
The Skull Tower
This horrific monument was built along the road to Constantinople, as a warning to anyone rising against the Ottoman Empire. A mid-19th century written document reads that the tower was rectangular, 4.5 meters wide and 4 meters long, that on all four sides there was a total of 56 rows, with 17 skulls in each row, totalling 952 skulls. In time most skulls were taken or missing, so that today the tower has only 58 skulls.
Niška Banja
Niška Banja (Niš Spa) is located 10 km away from Niš on the road to Sofia.
King Aleksandar I Karadjordjević had his villa here. Excited about the water from Banja, the king issued a special decree: every two days, his subjects filled pitchers with the thermal water and took them to Belgrade to the king. Medically, Niška Banja has a mild, sedative climate, very good for convalescents.