Sarajevo is a city with a large amount of impressive historical and cultural monuments. There is a lot of things to see and do. But, it’s quite clear that, like most other places in the world, only one part of the city is filled with these touristy, done-up sights. However, this city has so much more to offer. If you want to dig a little deeper and discover what life in Sarajevo truly looks like, make sure you visit some of the not-touristy, and yet interesting locations in Sarajevo.
Grbavica is a special place for citizens of Sarajevo for many reasons. There is even a song written about it. It’s is a quarter of the city of Sarajevo. Today it is a part of the municipality of Novo Sarajevo and administratively distinguished between Grbavica I and Grbavica II.
The area was developed as a new residential neighbourhood by the authorities of Socialist Yugoslavia, on the west back of the Miljacka river. Grbavica is a fine example of a brutalist architecture that was characteristic for Yugoslavia.
The main symbol of this neighbourhood is the Grbavica Stadium. The football stadium has terraces close to the pitch and it is the home stadium of FK Željezničar Sarajevo and one of two stadiums of the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The stadium has a capacity to hold 13,785 seated spectators, with more room for standing spectators under South stands (capacity up to 16,000). Grbavica Stadium is also known as Dolina ćupova (en. Plain of Jars).
However, this neighborhood has seen some bad days as well. During the Bosnian war from 1992 to 1995 it was occupied by the Bosnian Serb army and many street battles took place there. In 1995, after the singing of the Dayton Peace Treaty, the neighbourhood became a part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the people of Sarajevo, it symbolizes both the terror and evil of war, but also relief and hope for the new times to come.