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Rondo Restaurant, Mostar
The Front Line, Mostar
Catholic Cathedral, Mostar
Turkish Baths, MostarA Turkish fairytale town
Pocitelje, just 25km down ther river from Mostar, is enchanting. Its location is gorgeous and with its hilltop fort, pointed-roof clock tower, old stone walls, domes and minaret it looks the perfect setting for some Turkish fairytale
During 400 years of Ottoman rule, Pocitelje was an important administrative and strategic military centre and many fine buildings were erected. When the region came under Austro-Hungarian rule it lost its importance, its population fell steeply and it became a sleepy backwater, an event that actually preserved its wonderful mediaeval character. With the return of peace to BiH, the town's unique historical integrity was considered both important and endangered - so much so that, in 1996, it was placed on the World Monument Watchlist of the 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites. Now declared a protected historical site, restoration work over the last decade has seen the medressa, the hammam and one of the grander houses of the town restored and rehabilitated to community use. There are plans now to restore all the ruined houses further up the hill.
The town rises in terraces up from the road - first the bazaar, hammam and inn, then up to the medressa and the public soup kitchen. The mosque with its ancient cypress tree is on the next level and then the private houses climb up the hill to the fortress at the top. It all sits beautifully in the landscape, the twin towers of the clock tower and the minaret providing the accents that draw the eye upwards. As you pass through the town gate and start to climb the perspectives and views change constantly as you look up to the buildings rising above you and down on the wonderful rooftops. It's a photographer's delight. No wonder artists love it!
