Abstract:
Since the 17 Roman Emperors were born on the territory occupied today by Serbia in this tour you will visit several ancient Roman sites, among which are notable cities, estates and birthplaces.Activities:
Visit ViminaciumVisit Lepenski Vir
Visit monastery Vratna
Visit Negotin
Visit Rajačke pimnice
Visit Felix Romuliana
Visit Zaječar
Visit Timacus Minus
Visit Niš (The Skull Tower, Mediana, Niš fortress)
Visit monastery Ravanica
Visit Resava cave
Visit monastery Manasija
Tour description:
Day 1. Belgrade- Viminacium -Lepenski Vir - Kladovo approx. 350 km
Early departure from Belgrade. We take you to Eastern Serbia. First, we will visit the archaeological site Viminacium, where are the remains of the capital city of the Roman province of Gornja Mezia and the legion camp from the 2nd century BC. Recent discoveries have shown that Viminacium was the most important Roman city on this part of the Danube limes. We continue to the Lepenski Vir, a unique prehistoric site, discovered in 1967, which presents the first traces of civilization in Europe and dates back to 7,000 years BC. (it is older than ancient Greece, Egyptian pyramids, etc.). Optional: Boat ride in Djerdap for about 1.5 hours. We will see numerous signal boards, Hajdučka water mill, Decibel's head on the Romanian side and Trajan's board on our side. This board is from the Imperial Road from the Roman period and can only be seen from the water. At the end of the cruise, we suggest you transfer to the traditional ethno complex for lunch with excellent traditional specialties and a memorable atmosphere. In the phenomenal ethno-eco complex Kapetan Mišin breg is the most beautiful sunset on the Danube River. We are going to Kladovo. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 2. Kladovo - Vratna – Rajac wine cellars – Negotin approx. 150 km
After breakfast, a visit to the Monastery of Vratna from the XIV century, hidden in a wooded countryside that takes the breath away. Then those who are in a better physical condition will be able to visit giant stone doors - gates, the largest bridges that nature has made in our country. Those who stay near the monastery may have the opportunity to see moufflons, roe deer and other wild animals that are often seen here. Arrival to Negotin and a visit during which we will visit the birthplace of Stevan Mokranjac, the greatest Serbian composer at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and Konak of Prince Todorce, built in the middle of the 19th century, today the Hajduk Veljko’s Museum. We will also visit the memorial room of Djordje Stanojevic, who was born in Negotin, a contemporary and great friend of Nikola Tesla. Stanojevic was a professor, rector of the Belgrade University, a pioneer of electrification in Serbia. Then we go to the Rajac wine cellars, an unusual settlement of stone houses connected by the streets and squares, built in the 18th century only for his majesty wine! Wine tasting. We suggest you have lunch here. During the walk through the Rajac wine cellars, we will also visit the unusual cemetery in this village. After lunch, return to Negotin. Accommodation in a hotel and overnight stay.
Day 3. Negotin - Gamzigrad - Zajecar - Ravna - winery "Jovic" – Nis approx. 190 km
After breakfast departure to the archaeological site Gamzigrad, which in on the UNESCO List of Cultural Heritage of the World since 2007. The former Roman fort, palace and memorial complex Felix Romuliana was built by one of the Roman empires born on the territory of today's Serbia - Guy Valerie Gallery Maximian. We will find out all about Galery's edict and about this ruler, the predecessor of Emperor Constantine. We continue to Zajecar where we visit the National Museum, the Turkish water mill, the monument to Nikola Pasic and other remains of the past of this region. The next one stop to visit is the Roman locality Timacus Minus, which is located next to the village of Ravna and we continue the journey to the Jovic winery, where we suggest you have wine tasting and lunch. Departure for Nis. Driving through the city to the Skull Tower and the Roman archaeological site of Mediana and then return to the city and accommodation in the hotel. Continue through the city center and visit the Nis Fortress. Optional dinner in one of the famous taverns with music and traditional specialties. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 4. Niš - Malcha - Ravanica - Resavska cave - Manasija- Belgrade approx. 350 km
After breakfast in the hotel, we go to the wine cellar Malcha. The visit of this winery is a specific time machine through different historical epochs, starting from the Roman period when the wine was kept in amphorae through the Middle Ages until the modern era. Next stop is the visit to the monastery Ravanica from the XIV century, the endowment and the tomb of Prince Lazar. It is a true pearl among Serbian monasteries and one of the most beautiful examples of “Morava school” architectural style. His towers, named after Kosovo's heroes (tower of the Prince Lazar, Jug-Bogdan, Miloš Obilić's Tower), remind of the times when the knights walked through the land. Departure to the Resavska cave, the most famous cave in Serbia, located on the slopes of the mountain Beljanica. It is one of our most beautiful and widespread caves. After that, we suggest you to go to the restaurant "Vodopad", close to the waterfall Strmosten. Free time for lunch. Then we continue to the Monastery of Manasija from the XV century, the endowment of the despot Stefan Lazarevic, the knight of the Order of the Dragon, founded by the Hungarian king Zigmund. Find out how Stefan fascinated Zigmund and why he was, when he renewed the Knight's Order of the Dragon in 1408, assigned a honorary place among knights. Here we will find out many other details about Stefan Lazarevic. During 2014, it was officially confirmed by the DNA analysis that the remains found in this monastery belonged to Stefan. Departure to Belgrade and the end of the trip.
