Bosnia-Herzegovina, located on the Balkan peninsula between Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, has a unique mix of east and west that is perhaps only matched in Europe by Turkey. In the capital, Sarajevo, the central mosque, synagogue and cathedral are all within a few hundred metres of each other. The Muslim call to prayer combines with church bells as two distinct cultures that fought a scarring civil war in the 1990s now live alongside one another in peace.
As the place where the Roman Empire split and the meeting point between the ancient Silk Road and European merchants, the capital has a long and interesting history. The influence of the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires has left it’s mark, and the old town is a warren of narrow streets and alleys with medieval bazaars and houses.
Further south is the city of Mostar, famous for it’s Old Bridge, also known as Stari Most. The most heavily bombed city during the Bosnian War, the residents of Mostar suffered more than most. Although the Ottoman quarter and old town has mostly been rebuilt, signs of the war are visible throughout.
The Best of Europe multi-country tour makes a stop in Mostar, while the Croatian and Eastern Delights tour stops in Mostar before a one night stay in Sarajevo.
