Pečat Dragačeva - Zoran Hristić

Ljubazno zamoljen da napišem nešto o Dragačevu, odnosno o Saboru trubača (pa zar to nije jedno te isto!), našao sam se u čudu, jer to je slično kao kada bi me neko zamolio da napišem ljubavno pismo! Međutim, ipak ima logike. Dragačevo, Guča, sabor, pesma i ritam moje su stare ljubavi. 

Kada se piše o ljubavi, biraju se reči, dovoljno lepe da se zaboravi svakodnevica, da se utone u nešto nalik na san i izbegava se reč ''ali'', jer sreću ''saborišta'' ne sme ništa da pokvari. Čovek se, po prirodi stvari, vraća onome što voli... 

Zaljubljenik Sabora ima tu sreću da to može da čini svake godine, da to jedva čeka svake godine, a da pri tome u slavlju i pravim salvama zvuka zaboravi da je još jednu godinu stariji. I tako svake godine čeka ga jedna umivena, nasmejana i trešteća Guča, koja ga slatko umori, promukne, ''budilicom'' razbija mamurluk, natera ga na radost i razmazi srećom.

Provodeći vreme po zagušljivim studijama za snimanje muzike, žvaćući muku svoga posla, u svome nemiru često se setim Guče i njenog zvuka od iskona. Tada shvatim koliko tome pripadam, odakle sam i gde ću biti. U retkim časovima prividnog mira i ne pokušavam da nađem zvuk iz Guče, on sam nadolazi kao obeležje jednog naroda. Sabor u Guči je pečat Dragačeva i prsten našeg venčanja sa trubom. 

Truba u Dragačevu nikada ne svira ''krivo'', jer dostaojanstvo ljudi nameće pravila ponašanja zvuka, koji se tri dana rasplamsava do onog ''prometejskog trenutka'', kada nam se od veličanstvenosti zajedničkog sviranja ''Sa Ovčara i Kablara'' izmiče tle pod nogama, pali krv u venama i stiskaju pesnice u slavu naše ljubavi prema slobodi.

Zoran HRISTIĆ Otvaranje 9. Sabora 1978.

Shake it, Guča - Matija Bećković

It is not habitual for the host to speak, except if hosting the Trumpeters Festival in Guča, where every guest becomes the host from the moment when he enters the world capital of trumpet. As the host among hosts, I asked how long should I speak. They answered like true hosts do – tell us how long you would like to speak. Well, then, with permission – listen and hear!

The trumpet has been in use by people and angels since ever, and never and nowhere without good reason. Here, in Guča, the trumpeters are among the first ones to take into their hands the trumpets, and they do so with one reason more.  They say that the first trumpet descended to Guča looking for a place from where it could be heard the farthest. All her sisters followed her in flocks and jointly thundered into the chest of Serbia.

The call of the trumpet made all that sounds and tunes in, all the quivers and joining quivers on that loud side with which all the sides are linked, all the languages, the skies and the earth, to start roaring, storming and weeping.

The people and those musicians without scores and those with musical notations in their soles swarm to follow the sound. And the sound which makes you tremble, is the sound of the mother whose son you are – so says the poet. So it happened that since the Festival in Žiča we perhaps did not have a more joyful festival than the Festival in Guča! Life seeks an exit, and the sound seeks its rights.

 The walls destroyed by the trumpets of Jericho, are destroyed also by the trumpets of Dragačevo, and this has been going on for forty two years now. In some places they call it Woodstock, in others Mariachi, or Band-aid, or Exit, but everybody knows that Guča is the exit and that the original sounds better.

What many intellectuals do not know, Serbian peasants did not forget. It is better to blow a trumpet, than to sniff glue! Therefore, we hardly do have something more urban and more superior than the Trumpeters Festival in Guča. Obviously, the world Festival in Guča is Serbian contribution to globalization. Namely, if we would join the European Community without our tunes and colors, without our name and memories, how would they know who came to them and what they brought with them?

From the old to the new era, from the goose-feather pen to the computers, from calls across across the hills to the mobile phone and e-mail – everything that was ever created has still been in the process of transformation and creation. And this is not a Festival, but rather a volcano of health and beauty, which was activated from the heart of Serbia. And new, young volcanoes always become active where the old ones were active, too.

There is nothing we did not use to make music with: the leaf, the comb, the glass, the hair, the nails, the fingers, the horns, the belt, the stones, the eye-lashes, the mustache. There is no tree from which we did not try to make a trumpet. And there are no two leaves that did not differ, nor two stones which did not make echoes in a different way. And everything that we see on the Earth, are instruments of the big and glorious people's philharmonic orchestra. And to those trumpets which are today in Guča responding to the sun, this is what we must say: I know you, trumpet, when you used to be a willow tree!

The self-willed voices, the stubbornness of accents, the individuality of tunes – they will never cease to live and move human hearts. The biggest achievements of mind and hand which belong to the general spiritual property of mankind, all the immortal things which Earth gave to the skies, it related to the people and multiplied with the people!

Poets compared our embroideries with the wistfulness of Bach's and Schuman's solo violins. We know that embroidery, national costumes, folk dance, rituals, habit are also symbols with many meanings. But hundreds of thousands of participants in the Festival in Guča come to enjoy, dance and sing, and do not listen to interpretations!

Modern man has reached far, but it seems as if he noticed before reaching the aim that he did not take his heart and his soul with him.

And now, without these two, he does not care about the entire world. And this is where the deeper substance of the Festival in Guča is hidden. Not only by returning to oneself, but returning to joy and to the sense of living.

The State is what its music is – said Confucius 500 years B.C. If we only could say this for Serbia – how well off we would be! It is unbelievable that the State can be second-hand, and music original and authentic.

Throwing garbage to the wells is one of the biggest disasters of our spiritual ecology. Famous is the case of the shepherdess which happened right here, sixty years ago. She allegedly started suddenly to call somebody from the Ovčar and Kablar mountains whose name nobody has ever heard before and to ask him nothing else but when he will be coming to Užice, without asking why he should be in Užice and whom he has there. This is how one of the most irrational creations emerged, which was sung for decades with most disastrous consequences. And nobody was wondering about those who forged this song, they were rather persecuting those who memorized the original.

Thanks God, everything ended well and at the 42nd Trumpeters Festival in Guča we heard the original version as if such wonder had never existed! Hence: Serbian Principle, accept us among the Serb people! Welcome and come with luck – and leave with even more luck!

Shake it, maple!

Matija BEĆKOVIĆ, poet and novelist Letter of the host at the opening of 42nd FESTIVAL 2002nd

Grunula je truba, Branko V. Radičević

Sve se izgleda menja. Sabor ostaje isti. Kao element. Zemlja. Vazduh. Voda. Pečenje. Lebac i slanina. Beli lukac. Kolovođa i kec. Prvi i poslednji u kolu. Sabor je čudo. I to čudo nad čudima. Trebalo je, pre trideset i pet godina, promarširati ulicama Guče. U anteriji. Sa šajkačom na glavi. U prisustvu vlasti. U pratnji trubača.

To je čudo. Taj pohod koji traje. Koji ne prestaje. Od Sabora do Sabora. Od grada do grada. U kasno leto. Pred jesen. Dumbara bubanj. Igra kolo. Ali, molim vas, zamislite: kako je to bilo pre trideset i pet godina. U prikradici. U prekorici. Kao inačica. Tek će narasti inat. Tek će se zainatiti pravi inat. U sveopštoj sumnji.

Prikradalo se. I pripremalo veliko kolo. U prikradici. Naizgled naivno i nevešto. Trebalo je imati hrabrosti. I odoleti pokudicama. Šta će vam to tu? I zašto će vam baš tu? I šta će tu Dragačevo? I zar se to sme u Dragačevu? I šta će drugi reći? I kako će se drugi ponašati? I ko će za to odgovarati? I šta ako se to u nešto neprilično izrodi? Opasno je! Nije vreme! Zašto baš trube? I šta će tu trube? Pa to podseća na ratove! I kakvi su to bili ratovi! Ima ratova i ratova. Osvajačkih, napadačkih, tlačiteljskih, nepravedenih, opakih i zlovremenih.

Šta će tu trube ? Na šta nas podsećaju? Na nekakva knjaževstva i kraljevstva?

Nije Srbin izmislio trubu. Šta će truba u kolu? Ima ona preča posla. Zna se njeno mesto. Ispraća u ratove. I maršira s vojskama. Jedan, dva. Pod komandom. Jedan, dva. Ne može u šest koraka.

I grunula je. U Dragačevu. Kao izazov. I prkos. Prisetila. Podsetila. Promladila. Dahnula vedrinom. I nadom. Jer narod igra. Ima nade. Jer narod igra. Dobro je kad narod igra. Zasvadbariće jesen. Rađaće se deca. Oživeće njive i livade. Biće leba i slanine. Zaratariće zemlja. Neće zaratovati. Ona će zaratariti. Jer bog Perun, vrhovni srpski bog, nije bog ratova, već berićeta, bog plodnosti. On opominje gromovima i munjama. On upravlja zemljom i nebesima. I šalje kišu na žednu zemlju. Oplođuje. Preporađa. Omlađuje. Stvara. Daruje.

Trebalo je lukavo, polako, strpljivo, uz neophodne dodvorice i nepotrebne pristanke, očuvati saborovinu, koja je postala dadž, napajala ljude verom i nadom da još ima zdravlja i da nije sve prošlo i da će se živeti i ploditi.

Zaigralo je veliko saborsko kolo. I porodio se veliki, opštenarodni inat. Truba se pretvorila u čudo. Oslušnite je. Drma. Čućete što nikad niste čuli. Čućete ako ste posustali. Čućete ako ste posumljali. Ima spasa. Ima nade. Čućete ako ste se odrodili. Čućete ako se još niste porodili. Čućete ako ste se zaplodili.

Moj glas je slab. Nemam snage da nadvičem trubu. Sve što sam govorim, kazaće vam truba. Ona neprestano samo o tome trubi. Treba je čuti, slušati i razumeti. Ona umesto nas progovara. Jednog dana, ko zna kada, došla je među nas iz dalekog belog sveta. I progovorila je našim glasom. Baš kao da je svirala. Kao da se usvirala. I uguslila. Videli smo je na slikama posvećenim Božijim prostorima. Anđeli navešćuju dolazak. Strašnog suda. Ona se potpuno pripitomila u Dragačevu. Ne poziva na juriš. Neće u rat. Ne navešćuje propast sveta. Dolazak Strašnog suda. Započinje kolo. Svetkuje. I razastire radost. I zato je dobrodošla. Kao preporoditeljka. Na radost. I veselje.

Branko V. Radičević, pesnik, jedan od osnivača Sabora, Slovo domaćina na otvaranju 30. Sabora 1990.

Čudo zvano Guča, Momo KAPOR

Ko je mogao i da pomisli da će zov trube uspeti da okupi, ni manje ni više, šesto hiljada ljudi i da će na pustim poljanama Guče nići, kao u kakvom ratnom pohodu, polje šatora? A svi su zaboravili, niko ni da pomene, da je čitavu tu priču pre četrdeset devet goina, 1960. godine, započeo jedan pesnik, Branko V. Radičević, zvani Mačista, koji je proslavio Srbiju, a posebno Čačak, odakle je rodom, svojim pesmama i poemama. Niko da se seti Mača, koji je sa nekolicinom prijatelja sakupio tri-četiri sirota duvačka orkestra koji su se potucali po Srbiji po svadbama i sahranama, više gladni nego siti, i da ih je doveo u portu ispred crkve Svetih arhangela Mihaila i Gavrila u Guči da tu sviraju ceo letnji dan do podne, a onda, bogami, i uveče, i sve tako, puna tri dana.

Vraćajući se u Beograd, Mač je natovario u kola i teški krajputaš iz okoline Čačka, prvi koji je ikada videla prestonica, uvevši tako u modu staru tradicionalnu skulpturu, i to obojenu, dok su se intelektualci divili rupama Engleza Henrija Mura. E, pa lepo bi bilo da je bilo ko od zvaničnika makar i pomenuo Mačistu, Branka V. Radičevića, ali Srbija je to: ona lako zaboravlja. Uostalom, pokojni Mačista ima vremena da čeka da ga pomenu.

Sva muka i bes, sva lepota i tuga, sva radost i muzika, koje se sakupe za godinu dana u Srbiji, prve nedelje avgusta šiknu u nebo kroz blistava grla truba na Saboru u Guči. To je događaj na koji seljačka Srbija nestrpljivo čeka punih godinu dana. Tada Guča, varošica u brdima, postaje svetska prestonica trube.

Ne zna se pouzdano kada su se i kako trube primile u Srbiji, koja je odvajkada poznavala uglavnom gusle, pastirske svirale, frule i dvojnice, ali je to verovatno bilo posle srpsko-turskih ratova potkraj devetnaestog veka, kada su se četni i pukovski trubači vratili u svoja sela, donevši sa sobom olupane, ulubljene i izubijane, a često i kuršumima probijene trube, kojima su, do tada, pozivali na juriše i svirali povečerja. Ratovi koji su usledili početkom novog veka znatno su povećavali, sem mrtvih, i broj truba. Zbog toga je u njihovom tonu još uvek najizrazitiji ratnički zvuk, poklič na pobedu ili smrt – tanki, mesingani lim, naliven melanholičnom mrenom povečerja.

Donosili su ih kao dragocenosti, pažljivo uvijene u krpe i futrole, sašivene od uvoštenih šatorskih krila, u svoja zabita sela. Odmotane i pažljivo izglancane blesnule bi, usred bode siromašnih izbi, sjajem zlatnog roga. Čuvali su ih brižljivo i negovali, zasviravši katkad u sutonu kolce ili posmrtni marš, sve dok ne postadoše pravi virtuozi, ravni, ako ne i bolji, od meksičkih marijačija. Svojim instrumentima postizali su i najviše, gotovo nemoguće tonove, ali su bili u stanju i da nežno, trubama, bekrijama šapuću u uvo uspavanke. I kao što je šljiva madžarka u ovom delu Srbije pronašla najpogodnije tlo za svoje sokove, isto tako se primila i truba, do tada nepoznata srpskim muzičarima. Pokazalo se da se nijednim muzičkim instrumentom, čak ni violinom, za koju su bili majstori Cigani, ne može bolje izraziti suština bića ovog naroda, ponekad kroz krik, često kroz suze, jecaje ili promukli smeh, a najčešće kroz obesne taktove narodnih kola, punih razuzdane radosti.

I sada su se, sa svih strana Srbije, sjatili svi u Guču. I oni koji su tek nedavno prvi put dunuli u pisak, i oni što su živeli od sviranja po svadbama, sahranama, vašarima i zabitim krčmama. Bilo je među njima svakojakih; onih u seljačkim gunjevima i opancima-šiljkanima, sa šajkačama na glavama, i drugih, što su već stekli ime, pa se odenuli u svilene košulje jarkih boja i širokih rukava, prsluke i lakovane cipele. Došli su tu odršani orkestri bez sluha i imalo muzikalnosti, uvežbani ansambli, koji su već nastupali na televiziji i igrali po filmovima, ciganski orkestri sa rumunske i bugarske granice i družine sa imenima nagrada ispisanim na bubnjevima pozlaćenih činela – čak i ansambl američkih marinaca! u Guču su se sjatilii rojevi domaćih i stranih filmskih i televizijskih ekipa da zabeleže kamerama još jedan potpuno nepredvidljivi uzlet srpskog duha. Već prve noći, podanici prestonice trube, zaplitali su jezicima i provlačili se kroz stolove pod šatrama u osmicama, opijeni raskošnim zvukom i pićem što se nemilice točilo na svakom koraku. Najbrojniji među njima došli su iz obližnjih gradova i Beograda, a nije bilo malo ni onih što su stigli čak iz Evrope i Amerike, da nedelju dana traže i pronalaze svoje zaboravljene korene. Samo na ovom mestu mogle su da se susretnu leptir-mašne sa šajkačama, mlade lepotice sa slavnim, pijanim starcima, dame, odevene po poslednjoj pariskoj modi, sa zabrađenim seljankama; pod šatrama koje su bazdile po rakiji, pečenom mesu i duvanskom dimu što je naprosto kuljao iz njih. Svaka šatra postala je improvizovana gostionica sa rasparenim stolicama i sastavljenim stolovima prekrivenim čaršavima, u kojoj su se smenjivala i nadmetala, naizmenično, po dva-tri orkestra duvača. Pred jutro, iskolačenih očiju, okrenuli bi svoje trube jedni naspram drugih, poput tromblonskih bacača zvuka, izduvavajući svu svoju nagomilanu snagu i bes kroz njih, nadmećući se ko će koga da nadjača i otera sa poprišta. Lepotice su se pele na stolove i igrale po njima (zvali su ih stolovače), a muškarci padali u dert, razvezivali kravate i opuštali kaiševe ispod nabreklih trbuha. Ništa se, naime, ne slaže i ne prožima tako dobro kao šljivovica iz tog kraja i svirka duvača-Dragačevaca.

Oko šatri su se okretali danonoćno ražnjevi sa prasićima i jaganjcima a na nekoliko mesta i teški volovi, sa kojih su vešti majstori noževima odsecali ispečeni sloj, i dok se pekao novi, prodavali još vrele režnjeve volujskog mesa u rasečenim lepinjama.

Što se tiče ovogodišnje Guče, zapanjile su me dve stvari: prva, da nije bilo nijednog slučaja svinjskog gripa, koji hara planetom, a to iz dva razloga – najpre, zbog toga što su gosti pojeli svu raspoloživu svinjetinu, tako da grip nije stigao da se zapati u njoj, a i to je najzad dokazano, da bacili gripa umiru na metar i sedamdeset pet centimetara udaljenosti od onoga koji je popio tri litra vina ili gajbu piva. Tako je slučajno i pronađen najbolji serum protiv gripa. Druga stvar koja me zapanjuje, po ko zna koji put, jesu pijani Slovenci, koji dokazuju da nema šta da tražimo u Evropskoj uniji, jer da je tamo dobro, ne bi dolazili kod nas u Guču da se provedu pod sloganom ''Samo jednom se živi!'' Kako im je tamo, najbolje se vidi iz načina na koji piju: oni se opijaju mračno i depresivno, bilo čim što im dođe do ruku, samo da pobegnu od načina života kojim žive.

Ono što je potpuno nelogično u Guči kuva se u velikim zemljanim loncima, i zove se svadbarski kupus. Kiseo kupus u avgustu, to me zaprepašćuje. Da li je to onaj poplesnivili kupus, preostao od zimus, ili su ga zakiselili na brzu ruku, ostaće zauvek tajna. Zaista ga je perverzno jesti usred leta.

Primetio sam još da Guča, i pored svoje popularnosti, polako ali sigurno gubi svoju izvornu dušu, približavajući se američkom Vudstoku ili novosadskom Egzitu. Njena buduća propast počela je prisustvom u orkestrima saksofona, koji je do tada bio nepoznat instrument u srpskoj narodnoj muzici, a nastavlja se sa sve prisutnijim klavijaturama. Još samo nedostaju orgulje i harfistkinja sa šajkačom, pa da stvar bude potpuna. Još nešto: u repertoar se sve više uvlače belosvetski šlageri od Maj veja do Kondorovog leta – kao , možemo i to. Za iduću godinu Guča je najavila takmičenje za prvu trubu sveta. Šteta što su umrli Dizi Gilespi i Majls Dejvis – oni bi sigurno došli da se takmiče sa Salijevićima.

Kao što je ono prase pitalo, ima li života posle Đurđevdana, tako se i mi pitamo, ima li ga posle Guče?

Momo KAPOR, književnik i slikar Nin, Beograd, 20. avgust 2009.

Archaeological town Vinča (Belgrade), Serbia

Vinča, an archaeological site which reveals the oldest organized settlements in Europe from Neolithic times after which the culture of the central Balkans and the Pannonian plain is called the "Vinča" culture. Smederevo, a medieval town of the last great Serbian ruler Djuradj Brankovic of the early 15 century with a well - preserved fortress on the Danube's bank.

The Danube Secrets - National Park Djerdap

Day 1th: Meeting of passengers and representatives of the agency at the airport Nikola Tesla - Belgrade. Transfer to the hotel. Free time. Overnight.

Day 2nd: Breakfast. Sightseeing of Belgrade by cruising the Danube and Sava Rivers. Along the 18 kilometres sail, enjoy the beauty of the city, lunch on a boat with Serbian wine and brandy [rakija].

After compliancy tour continues with Belgrade panorama sightseeing which includes sites of City Parliament, Federal Parliament, Terazije Square, Republic Square, Students' Square, Belgrade Fortress, City Gate ["Varoš kapija"], New Belgrade, Topčider Hill, Dedinje, Oslobodjenje Square, Slavija Square, Nikola Pašić Square. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 3rd: Breakfast. Departure to Eastern Serbia and Djerdap Gorge.
Short break is planned on the Srebrno jezero [Silver Lake]. Continuing voyage towards Golubac, a town where Danube is 6 kilometres wide and for that reason called "Serbian sea". Danube is on its widest part decorated by Golubac Fortress, one of the most beautiful fortresses on its whole course. After visiting the fortress and break for taking photos, along the valley of Djerdap Gorge group arrives at the hotel "Lepenski Vir". Spare time. Visit to the museum "Lepenski Vir" and going on Captains Miša Hill for dinner. From this hill there is the best view of the Danube in its entire course, and art lovers can enjoy seeing open - air wood gallery. Accommodation in the hotel on the Danube bank. Spare time in the afternoon and in the evening.

Day 4th: Breakfast. Photo Safari tour in National Park with viewing the inhabitants and amazing natural sights. After hunting, lunch with music and party under the open sky is prepared. Those without these ambitions can visit the observation hills of the National Park and enjoy the unique Djerdap view. From there we move to Kladovo to visit the Archeological Museum of the town. Trip continues towards Vratna and visiting of its attractions: Monastery Vratna, farm of mouflons, and the unique wonder of nature, Vratanjske Kapije [Vratanjske Gates], rocks which made rare and odd forms hanging over the Gorge of the little Vratna River. Departure to Negotin. Visit of a birth house of a famous Serbian composer Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac.
Accommodation in the hotel. Spare time. Overnight.

Day 5th: Breakfast. Setting off from Negotin to the village Rajac along the narrow way, above which a village of wine cellars under the name "Rajačke pimnice" is rising. This is the small town built of trimmed stone and logs. After visiting wine cellars ["Pimnice"] and wine tasting, lunch is planned in the St. Trifun restaurant, and the specialties of the national cuisine of Negotin area are served. We leave "Pimnice" late in the afternoon, when return to Belgrade is planned.
Accommodation in the hotel in Belgrade. Spare time in the evening. Overnight.

Day 6th: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport; Departure.Day 1th: Arrival to Belgrade. Meeting of passengers and representatives of the agency at the airport Nikola Tesla - Belgrade. Transfer to the hotel. Spare time. Overnight.

Day 2nd: Breakfast. Route: Belgrade - Vrnjačka Banja [spa]
Sanctum places of Serbian capital [St. Petka Chapel and Church Ružica, Orthodox Church and Patriarch's residence, St. Sava's Temple, the biggest Orthodox Temple in the Balkans]. Departure to Vrnajčka banja. Visit to the Monasteries Pokajnica, Manasija, and Ravanica; lunch in the monastery. Arrival to Vrnajčka banja. Accommodation. Overnight.

Day 3rd: Breakfast. Route: Vrnajčka banja - Monasteries Žiča, Ljubostinja, Kalenić - Vrnjačka Banja. Lunch is planned in Monastery Kalenić. Visit to the open - air Museum "Kalenić" and familiarizing with the old Serbian crafts: weaving, spinning, knitting, basket weaving. Presentation of the national architecture and traditional usable objects.
Return to Vrnjačka Banja. Accommodation. Overnight.

Day 4th: Breakfast. Spare time. Route: Vrnjačka Banja - Monastery Studenica.
Visit to Monasteries Djurdjevi Stupovi, Sopoćani. Arrival to Monastery Studenica. Lunch. Accommodation in the Monastery's residential building and presence to the evening prayer. Overnight

Day 5th: Breakfast in the Monastery residential building. Route: Studenica - Ovčar banja [spa] - Ovčarsko - Kablarska Gorge - Valjevo

Visit to Monastery Gradac [long hiking tour] and St. Peter's Church on the way to Ovčar Banja. Arrival to Ovčar banja. Lunch in the national restaurant. Visit to the Monasteries of Ovčarsko - Kablarska Gorge: Vavedenje [Presentation of the Virgin], Vaznesenje [Resurrection], Sretenje [Meeting of Our Lord in the Temple], Svete Trojice Blagovestenje [Annunciation of Holy Trinity], Ilinje, Savinje, Nikolje, Jovanje i Uspenje [Dormition]. Departure to Valjevo. Accommodation. Overnight.

Day 6th: Breakfast. Route: Valjevo - village Sitarice - Valjevo.
Petnica cave, Research Center in Petnica. Visit to the old city center Tešnjar, Muselin's konak [hist. castle, palace], the monument of the greatest Serbian army commander Živojin Mišić, and the monument of poetess Desanka Maksimović]. Visit of the Monasteries Ćelije and Lelić in which are the relics of the Bishop Nikolaj Velimirović, the Orthodox theologian and writer from 20th century. Visit to the Monastery Pustinja from 14th century, built during the rule of the Nemanjić royal family.

Visit to the village Sitarice on the hillsides of Medvednik Mountain. This is the place with traditional, old Serbian houses, outbuildings, folklore, customs and traditional dishes of Serbian cuisine are preserved and cherished. In the yard of an old authentic village house, Serbian dining table brimming with national dishes and drinks, traditional Serbian host, songs and dancing typical for this part of Serbia, welcomes guests.
Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 7th Breakfast. Route: Valjevo - Soko Grad - Monastery Tronoša - Tršić - Belgrade
Departure from Valjevo. Arrival to Soko Grad and visit to the Monastery Complex of "Soko Grad". Short break. Departure to Monastery Tronoša and Trsić. Visit to the Monastery Tronoša and monastery residential building. Visit to the Ethnographic Commemorative Park and Commemorative House dedicated to the father of Serbian literacy Vuk Stefanović Karadžić in Tršić. Lunch break and individual activities.
Departure to Belgrade in the evening. Accommodation in the hotel. Overnight.

Day 8th: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport; departure.

Serbian Monasteries Nemanjić and Žiča

Nemanjic's Monasteries - The monastery of Zica, a foundation of King Stefan the First - Crowned from the beginning of 13 century. It used to be the seat of the first Serbian archbishopric and archbishop Sava Nemanjic. Here was crowned Stefan the First - Crowned, the first Serbian ruler "wreathed by the royal crown" in 1217.

Studenica monastery, a foundation of Stefan Nemanja which the creator of the Serbian state and church built at the peak of his power toward the end of 12 century was the seat of creation of first Serbian literary works and early Serbian fresco painting. The Church of the Virgin served also as the mausoleum of the dynasty and its founder.

Visit old village Kovacica, Belgrade

In 1802 the village of Kovacica with a Slovak ethnic minority was established fifty kilometers from Belgrade. In this village of numerous crafts especially developed were naive arts which have been made famous throughout the world, in the first place, by Zuzana Halupova and Martin Jonas. The international ethno centre Babka promotes unique artistic features of the region.

Sightseeing four days of old Serbian town

Day 1th: Arrival in Belgrade. Accommodation in the hotel; Dinner; Spare time; Overnight.

Day 2nd: Belgrade - Valjevo - National Park Tara - Belgrade: Breakfast. Sightseeing with a professional tourist guide. Route: the City Parliament, the Federal Parliament, Terazije Square, Republic Square, Students' Square, Belgrade Fortress, City Gate ["Varos kapija"], New Belgrade, Topcider Hill, Dedinje, Oslobodjenje Square, Slavija Square, Nikola Pasic Square.

Trip continues towards Valjevo. Sight - seeing: Old Serbian town Tesnjar, Muselin's Residential House, Poetry Square ["Trg Pesnistva"] - a monument dedicated to a Serbian poet Desanka Maksimovic, Vojvoda Misic Square [a Serbian field marshal]; visit to the monasteries Celije and Lelic. Lunch in Serbian national restaurant [facultative]. Trip continues towards National Park Tara. Arrival in the hotel Omorika is planned in afternoon; accommodation; dinner.

Day 3rd: Tara Mountain. Breakfast in the hotel. Departure to Perucac; visit to the river Vrelo with beautiful waterfalls, and the river godina [365m long; godina: year]. Continuing our trip, we visit Mitrovac and "carpet meadow" and observation deck "Banjska stena". Return to hotel; dinner; overnight.

Day 4th Mountains Tara - Zlatibor - Mokra Gora. Mountain Tara: Breakfast in the hotel; checkout. Excursion to the Rača Monastery and the spring of thermal water "Ladjevac" located near the monastery. Trip with beautiful panorama sight - seeing continues towards Zlatibor Mountain. Arrival to Mokra Gora.

Visit to the Drvengrad, film city of Emir Kusturica. Watching the projection of the latest documentary film by Emir Kusturica. Lunch is planned [optionally] in the ethno restaurant of this unique film city.

Boarding the old type train "Cira" and driving along the famous "Sarganska osmica" - the narrow - gage railroad, shaped in number eight, long 15km with 22 tunnels, many viaducts and bridges and it represents the greatest tourist attraction in Europe at the moment. Stops are on the places with spectacular views, and also on the place where film "Zivot je čudo" [Life is a miracle] by Emir Kusturica is made. Return to Zlatibor and accommodation in the hotel. Dinner; Overnight.

Day 5th: Mountain Zlatibor - Belgrade. Breakfast. Checkout.
Visit to the Ovcarsko - kablarska Gorge, called "Serbian Mount Athos" for its unique monasteries. Arrival in Belgrade in the afternoon.