Since 2005 the old town was inscribed on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list. It has a similar architecture as Berat. I am deeply in love with this city. I adore the everyday monotony, maybe it is because I love nature and tranquility, i adore fresh air of the morning and the view of mountains combined with stones. It is like being so far away from the noise, cars, urban life. In the higher part there is the castle and a big wavy flag in the middle of the city. The old pazari that seems to vitalize somehow the life of Gjiro, as you go through cobble-stoned streets – kalldremet. One can see house after house and how elders take care of them. It seems that they are the ones who are loyal to the ancient authenticity of the city, and the youth tends to run to the noise and life in bigger cities.

- Ambra Myftari

Since 2008 the old town was inscribed on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage list. Berat is also called a city of 1001 windows. I adore it and I really love to go there.

Why do I like it? I appreciate it because of the history and good vibes going through the streets. I always have a very good feeling at heart after visiting, fresh energy and positivity, all good things. There is a new part of the city and the old one, and while I am visiting the old city, my mind and my body is so in pace, is like I can freely breathe. The mountains around, the river and old architecture are so perfect with each other.

- Ambra Myftari

There is a bay named Godinje's Bay on Skadar Lake, Montenegro where group of buildings is located, forming the settlement Lekovici that represents unique rural architecture. The architecture is typical for this part of Montenegro called Crmnica, but for the rest of the country it is exceptional and representative, and thus rare in the context of its kind, both in terms of segments and in its wholeness.

Typical Godinje house consists of economical facilities – cellar called “konoba” and multi-level residential part of the building. Cellars are vaulted with stone vaults and excavated in the soil-forming rock room, served to accommodate the long barrels and containers for wine and brandy, to accommodate agricultural and other tools, and sometimes to accommodate cattle, especially in winter. Interiors of the cellars are especially impressive in terms of architecture and construction. Cellars are connected among themselves with a hidden passages through which it was possible to communicate, escape and reach spring Tocak during conflicts and periods of crises. The upper parts of houses are simple living spaces, with quite sizable and opened balconies that were considered an integral part of the living space of the house. Traditional elements such as niches, recesses and hearthstones are included in every house.

The most significant building is a summer house of Balsici in the photo. The portal of the house has undergone through numerous modifications from XIV till XX century – extensions, alternations, disappearance or dispersions of construction materials. The cellar of this complex is considerate to be the best preserved part, whose wall thickness is up to 2m, consists of several rooms vaulted with stone volts, abundant arcades and consoles. In front of the house there is a portal containing a decorative stone plastics that are not typical for the vernacular architecture.

Mirjana Lubarda and Andreja Mugoša

When we were children we couldn’t wait for school brakes to start so we could go to the village Gradac (Serbia) where our grandfather Bozidar lived. We were enjoying fairytale summers on our grandfather’s estate. It would be very hard to name all the games that we had played and retell every anecdote and story or describe all vivid characters that we had met there.

Of course, like in any other country side there are a lot of trees. Nevertheless one particular tree has always been a mark point and living thing of admiration. The Bosa’s Oak. Our great grandfather was telling us stories about the oak which was growing on his estate. And later our aunt Bosa inherited it, and that is why we are still calling it Bosa’s oak. The oak knows long forgotten stories of our past and we are hoping that it will continue to be an important member of our family and village life for a very long time. We would like to think that it will maintain to admire passersby as well as residents yet to come.

Ratibor and Bosko Tanasijevic

Even though I am spending my summers on island Krk where my family heritage is, I like to explore other Croatian islands too. Island Rab is near Krk, and its capital town also called Rab is beautiful neat place – the real Romanesque-Renaissance gem, with many palaces, churches and bell towers. Its three Romanesque bell towers built so near one another in such small space, give exceptional character to Rab. The oldest bell tower St Anton dates from XII century.

The remains of a turbulent past are embedded in the fabric of the city, and hence unusual architectural decorations of different styles can be found on a same building. Often the coats of arms of patrician families are noticeable on the facades of houses they owned. These houses are still living houses or sometimes even small hotels.

Island Rab is the birthplace of St Marin who was the founder of the world’s oldest Republic of San Marino in Italy.

The city has several major events - the Rab art events, Musical evenings and numerous folk festivals.

The patron of the island is St Kristofor, at whose arbitration according to legend, Rab was liberated from Italo Norman siege in 1075. In honor of this patron Medieval Summer Festival is held yearly from 25-27 July. This festival is well known by its crossbow competition and mass-attended event Days of the Middle Ages.

Daina Glavocic

Labin is a small town in Istria, Croatia. And it is exhilarating to me with its gorgeous architecture, splendid piazzas and streets designed on human scale, interesting topography with lots of climbs and descends, full of life and rich with art crafts and art galleries…

Istria always fascinates me; I always think that I must be in a land of elves, somewhere far away from real life. I believe that many people have the same impression. So if you ever need to run away to a fairytale, just visit Istria. And among many other wonderful towns, don’t miss Labin.

Lucija Sekula

This high-rise building is the oldest skyscraper in Zagreb. It is a residential and commercial building, composed of two-storey base and eight-storey tower. It was designed by architect Drago Ibler and it was built between 1956 and 1958.

The building was initially planned for the Autocentar Company and to its employees. Knowing this, it is easy to assume how important car industry might have been for Zagreb economy in that time.

Wooden skyscraper got the nickname for its numerous wooden details and elements.

I adore this building. Each time I am at the Ibler’s Square I cannot help myself to look up and admire the elegant view. I always imagine prosperous and modern Zagreb of mid XX century.

- Ana Stunic

When in Cetinje, I never miss a chance to pass by the former French Embassy Building.

France was among the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with Montenegro. Construction of this architecturally valuable and for that time modern object is really exceptional. The building was built in 1910 in Art nouveau style, and it was the first reinforced concrete building not only in Montenegro, but wider. It was designed by Polo Gadea and one of the most prominent architects Auguste Pere, was also involved in this project.

Each time I stand in front of it I think about time when even the eaves of the house were important!

Research of the former French Embassy Building was recently published by EXPEDITIO.

Jelena Dulovic

Lidija Franovic from Belgrade was the first to send story about the place she likes:

The residence of prince Milos Obrenovic (Konak kneza Milosa) in Topcider Park in Belgrade is place which I love to visit. I made this photo in October 2015.

Building of residence started in 1831, after the second Hatti-Sheriff in 1830, when prince Miloš, a leader of the Second Serbian Uprising in 1815, has become a hereditary prince and Serbia got an autonomy within Turkish Empire. It was finished in 1836.

An architect of residence that was built in oriental style with elements of classicism was Hadzi Nikola Zivkovic, one of the first architects in modern Serbia. Zivković was also an architect of residence of princess Ljubica Obrenovic (Milos’s wife) in Belgrade.

“Belgrade Astronomical Observatory is one of the oldest scientific institutions in Serbia and the only autonomous astronomical institute in Yugoslavia. Its past development forms an important part of the history of science and culture in these regions.” - by Dr Milan S. Dimitrijevic, Publ. Astron. Obs. Belgrade, 60 (1998),

It is located in the middle of Zvezdara forest which is one of the largest parks in Belgrade. The ambient of the Observatory’s complex is unique, but not well known by the citizens of this town. Unfortunately, because of the lack of funds the decay of pavilions is evident; nevertheless it gives this space a note of dreamy patina, combined with its elegance - this still is a perfect place for creative thinkers.

The telescope on photos is completely accurate, yet outdated for demand of today’s science. Although the Astronomical Observatory is working as a scientific institute, it also is a place of heritage.

If you have a chance to visit Observatory, do not miss it. It might appear as a time machine, but it definitely is more than that.

The SEE Heritage network would like to encourage all of you to send few photos and short text about place you like in your town. We will publish it.

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