Ulica Knez Mihailova
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Ulica Knez Mihailova (Serbian: Улица Кнез Михаилова; English: Prince Mihail's Street) is the main pedestrian street in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. It is protected by law as one of the oldest and most valuable monumental complexes of the city, with a large number of representative buildings and urban houses built at the end of 1870s.
[edit] History
It is thought that in as early as the Roman times there was the center of the Singidunum settlement. In this area, at the time of Turks, there were winding streets with gardens, drinking-fountains and mosques. In the middle of the 19th Century, in the upper part of the street was the garden of Knez Aleksandar Karađorđević. After the imposition of the regulation plan of Belgrade in 1867, by Emilijan Josimović, the street was quickly built up, and gained much of the character one can see today. Houses were built and the most influential and wealthiest families of the commercial and political society of Belgrade came to live here. In 1870, the city authorities officially gave a name to this street - Ulica Kneza Mihaila.
[edit] Today
Knez Mihailova Street is a common meeting point for Belgraders. The street has been named one of the most beautiful pedestrian zones in Eastern Europe. The street is home to Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU), Instituto Cervantes, Goethe-Institut, Centre Culturel Français, British Council as well as many other leading shops and several cafes. Thousands of people stroll along the street every day as it is the shortest path from Terazije to Kalemegdan park and fortress.
