THE WHITE TABIA
Located on the southeastern slopes of Sarajevo, hiding in a stone mantle the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present day, Bijela Tabie certainly represents one of the most impressive and valuable buildings of the architectural heritage of this area. The dominant position of Bijela Tabija in relation to the natural amphitheater of the historic city center, and the view that stretches along the Miljacka river all the way to modern residential areas in the west of Sarajevo, form a specific, almost completely natural, choreography of nature and human creativity.White tabia as an object of architectural heritageTo this day, different opinions have been expressed about the time of creation of Bijela Tabija. According to one, the building was built around 1550 (the opinion is based on the data provided by the travel writer Katarina Zeno), and it was demolished during the construction of Vratnik city and a new fort was built in its place, which we recognize today by its polygonal shape

.According to another opinion, there was a fortress in the Middle Ages on the site of Bijela Tabija, which was no bigger than the usual type of medieval defensive fort protecting an open settlement (suburb) in its vicinity.The successful reconstruction of the appearance of the medieval fortress at the site of Bijela tabija was done by Alija Bejtić on the basis of data provided by sources from the 17th century. It was a fortress with a rectangular base (length approx. 75 m in the north-south direction, width approx. 50 m in the east-west direction) with four towers at the corners, a square base and a heel above the entrance gate. This appearance of the city dates it to the end of the 14th or the beginning of the 15th century. 

Neighborhoods of  Sarajevo - Baščaršija 

We will start with today's bathing area Bentbaša, which was once known as medieval village of Brodac. The founder of Sarajevo, Isabeg Isaković thought this location was just perfect for establishing a city.

In Baščaršija, he built Kolobara Han (Kolobara Inn), a hotel in modern terms, which was soon surrounded by a multitude of shops creating the economic basis for the development of the city. Kozja ćuprija bridge (Goat Bridge) was built upstream from the village of Brodac in the 16th century, and today is an easy, half hours walk from Bentbaša along the Dariva Street. Not much is known about Kozja ćuprija, but it is certain that everything came to town through it: armies, caravans, religions, cultures and influences.

In the night between August 25 and 26, 1992, City Hall was hit by flammable artillery missiles. The fire destroyed the City Hall, together with the huge library fund of the National-University Library of about 2 million units. The renovation of the City Hall starts in 1996 and lasts until 2014, and the complete reconstruction has been done according to the original documentation.

There are two traditions about the origin of Kozja ćuprija.
According to the first legend, the bridge was built by the Romans, and the second claims it was built by Mehmed Paša in memory of his childhood when he was just a poor goat shepherd.

According to the legend, one of the goats in his care discovered the hidden treasure. Mehmed used it for his education, became elected to the rank of Pasha and constructed a bridge he called “Goat’s Bridge”. Another permanent stamp was left by Gazi Husrev Beg (Gazi Husrev Bey), the conqueror of Belgrade, the irreplaceable warrior in campaigns of Suleiman the Magnificent, triple Bosnian Steward and Builder. In 1530, with his own money, he built the most monumental building of Islamic culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the largest sacral object of Islamic architecture in this part of the world, Gazi Husrev Beg Mosque, sitting on the right bank of the river Miljacka.

Bey Mosque, together with mekteb, wudu inn, two octagonal mausoleums and the clock tower building is the central and largest complex of the “čaršija”, and has had a significant influence on all construction activities in the city.
It is also the first mosque in the world to install electrical lighting.
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