Belgrade: Ready to Surprise

A weekend discovering one of the most important cities of the former Yugoslavia, today the capital of Serbia. With a return Alitalia flight of about 200 euros from Catania to Belgrade via Rome, having left at 6 in the morning we land in Belgrade around 11; once through customs we take the A1 shuttle to the central station, and on foot in a few minutes we reach the Hotel Life Design (120 euros per couple for 2 nights). The hotel is very close to the better-known Hotel Moskva, a stone's throw from the Parliament, the Royal Palace, the old quarter and the shopping streets. In the afternoon, despite the snow, we visit the Kalemegdan fortress (immense, very well preserved). The next day we visit another part of the city, remaining impressed by the largest Orthodox church in the world: Saint Sava.

The city is compact, welcoming, but the greyness of many buildings still reminds us of the recent past. Serbian cuisine is excellent; we had lunch at the places most reviewed on tripadvisor, spending at most 30 euros for two; among others, worth trying are the restaurants Lorenzo and Kakalamba (toy-town style... surreal atmosphere). Excellent is the hotel booked through booking, which offers free access to a wellness centre. Low prices for souvenirs and clothing; high for electronics/telephony products. In a few years Belgrade will certainly be one of the most popular destinations for "Western" tourism.