Slavija (Belgrade)
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Slavija Square (Serbian: Трг Славија, Trg Slavija) is the space between Kralja Milana, Beogradska, Makenzijeva, Svetosavska, Bulevar JNA, Deligradska and Nemanjina streets located in Belgrade.
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[edit] History
Until the 1880s Slavija square was only a large pool where the inhabitants of Belgrade went hunting wild ducks. The formation of the square started when an Englishman, Francis Mackenzie, a well-known businessman, bought a large piece of land above the present square and parcelled it for sale. Soon after that, Mackenzie has built a house for himself at Slavija (at the place where the old "Slavija" cinema used to be), which in 1910 was turned into the Socialist People's Center, a gathering place of the worker's movement. The other, smaller buildings at the corner of Kralja Milana and the square, in which the famous cafes "Tri seljaka" and "Rudničanin" used to be, were destroyed before and during World War II. A modern hotel named "Slavija" was built in 1962, and enlarged later. The official name of the square is Dimitrije Tucovic Square. Dimitrije Tucovic was the prominent leader of the Socialist movement in Serbia, the monument dedicated to him still stands in the center of the square. The square is home to the first McDonald's restaurant ever built in Eastern Europe (opened in March 1988). It still is a McDonald's restaurant.
[edit] Today
Slavija Square is never empty being the main square of Belgrade. It is the main traffic circle in the city throug which many buses, trolley bus and trams pass through. The square is prone to traffic jams during the winter months during/after heavy snow.
[edit] Future
Slavija square is expected to go through heavy reconstruction in the near future. More news will be available on this in mid 2006.
