Stari Grad, Sarajevo


Stari Grad is a municipality of the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the oldest and most historically significant part of Sarajevo. At its heart is the Baščaršija, the old town market sector where the city was founded by Ottoman general Isa-Beg Ishaković in the 15th century.
WWW Official Site

Features

The municipality of Stari Grad is characterized by its many religious structures, and examples of unique Bosnian architecture. The eastern half of Stari Grad consists of the Ottoman influenced sectors of the city, while the western half showcases an architecture and culture that arrived with Austria-Hungary, symbolically representing the city as a meeting place between East and West.
The population of Stari Grad is 36,976, making it the least populous of Sarajevo's four municipalities. Its population density of 742.5 inhabitants per km2 also ranks it last among the four. Stari Grad contains numerous hotels and tourist attractions including the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque, Emperor's Mosque, the Sarajevo Cathedral and more.

Local communities

The Stari Grad municipality consists of the following 16 local communities:

Demographics

1971

126,598 total

1991

50,744 total
  • Bosniaks - 39,410
  • Serbs - 5,150
  • Croats - 1,126
  • Yugoslavs - 3,374
  • Others - 1,684

2013

36,976 total
  • Bosniaks - 32,794
  • Croats - 685
  • Serbs - 467
  • Others - 3,030

Sites

Prior to 1914, the Austro-Hungarians who ruled Sarajevo wanted land in the Sarajevo Old Town district to build a city hall and library. The land had a home on it and, despite offering the owner money, he refused and continued to refuse even when told that he had to move. When the officials threatened him, he moved the house and rebuilt it, piece by piece, on the other side of the Miljacka river, as a way of spiting the officials. The Sarajevo spite house operates today as a restaurant, called "Inat Kuća", which means "Spite House."