Sarajevo is our first stop, and honestly, the story of this city is incredible. It went through some of the toughest conflicts imaginable, yet it stands today as a living example of pure resilience. It has risen again and again.

The city didn’t just survive the wars, it flourished! Today, it’s full of art, stunning architecture, vibrant festivals, and delicious food.

Walking through its streets, you’ll see mosques, churches, and synagogues standing side by side. It’s a true testament to centuries of cultural diversity.

Every corner of Sarajevo shows how the community found strength in its own history. It’s a destination where memory, creativity, and coexistence come together in the most magical way. Doesn’t it sound like the perfect place to begin?

What does resilience look like when a city is surrounded?
Between 1992 and 1996, Sarajevo endured the longest siege in modern history. The city was completely without food or medicine.

This began after the breakup of Yugoslavia. Bosnia declared independence, but the country was deeply divided among Bosniak Muslims, Orthodox Serbs, and Catholic Croats. The Bosnian Serb leaders, backed by Serbia, opposed independence and aimed to create a “Greater Serbia” by uniting all Serb-inhabited territories.

When the war ended, the city began to rebuild everything from the ground up. Some scars were left behind, the “Sarajevo Roses,” small mortar craters filled with red resin, still mark the streets as reminders of what happened.

They’re a sad memory, yes, but they also show that the city chose to rise and move forward. It’s an incredible lesson in resilience!

Can you imagine watching a movie while bombs are falling outside? That’s what happened in Sarajevo in 1995. A group of young people created a Film Festival as an act of resistance.

For them, it was a way to stay alive through art. There was no electricity, no safety only the determination to prove that culture itself can be a trench.

The first screenings took place in basements and shelters. People just wanted to escape reality for a couple of hours. It was an enormous act of hope.

Years later, that act became one of the most important film festivals in Eastern Europe. Today, it welcomes over 100,000 visitors and supports young filmmakers.

Sarajevo went from screening films under fire to becoming a symbol that art always survives even in the darkest times. It’s an epic story!

There are few cities where you can hear the call to prayer and, just a few steps away, the sound of church bells. In Sarajevo, this happens every day  and it’s completely normal. A mosque, a Catholic church, and an Orthodox church can share the same street without any problem.

For centuries, this blend of cultures and religions has shaped the city. In the past, religion was almost tied to your last name, depending on your neighborhood or family.

But the truth is, beyond those labels, daily life was always about coexistence  about learning to respect and share the same space with everyone.

Today, that diversity is still very much alive. People celebrate their festivities side by side, and the temples remain open.

That coexistence is what makes Sarajevo so unique. It’s a city that didn’t just accept its differences, it’s proud of them. A true lesson in tolerance!