evapii has its origins in the Balkans during the Ottoman expansion into southeastern Europe and developed

through the Middle Ages into a regional specialty similar to the kofte kebab.[5] In Bosnia, there are varieties of versions of the dish such as e.g. Travniki evapi from the traditionally cattle herder area of Travnik, canonical Sarajevski evap from Sarajevo area, that look similar but taste slightly different due to variations in seasoning and meat content (some varieties containing lamb or other non-pork meats), as well as Banjaluki evapi which differs not only in taste but also by being grilled and served in connected tuples (usually of four). "Tuzlanski evapi" served in Tuzla area, come in butter rich soup dipped somun - and have distinctive taste as well as texture of bread. In all cases the dish is kept simple, and traditionally served in somun with onions and/or kajmak and yogurt or kefir as apetizer, whereas outside Bosnia, it's common for evapi to be served with variety of vegetables and seasonings. Stari Most (English: Old Bridge) is a reconstruction of a 16th century Ottoman bridge in the city of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina that crosses the river Neretva and connects two parts of the city. The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on November 9, 1993 by Bosnian Croat forces during the Croat-Bosniak War. Subsequently, a project was set in motion to reconstruct it, and the rebuilt bridge opened on July 23, 2004. One of the country's most recognizable landmarks, it is also considered one of the most exemplary pieces of Islamic architecture in the Balkans and was designed by Mimar Hayruddin, a student and apprentice of the famous architect Mimar Sinan The original bridge was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 to replace an older wooden suspension bridge of dubious stability. Construction began in 1557 and took nine years: according to the inscription the bridge was completed in 974 AH, corresponding to the period between July 19, 1566[1] and July 7, 1567. Tour directors used to state that the bridge was held together with metal pins and morter made from the protein of egg whites.[4] Little is known of the building of the bridge, and all that has been preserved in writing are memories and legends and the name of the builder, Mimar Hayruddin (student of Mimar Sinan, the Ottoman architect). Charged under pain of death to construct a bridge of such unprecedented dimensions, the architect reportedly prepared for his own funeral on the day the scaffolding was finally removed from the completed structure. Upon its completion it was the widest man-made arch in the world. Certain associated technical issues remain a mystery: how the scaffolding was erected, how the stone was transported from one bank to the other, how the scaffolding remained sound during the long building period. As a result, this bridge can be classed among the greatest architectural works of its time.

The Old Bridge stood for 427 years, until it was destroyed on 9 November 1993 during the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After its destruction a temporary cable bridge was erected in its place.

Vjetrenica (pronounced [jtrnitsa], which means "wind cave" or "blowhole") is the largest and most important cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one of the most interesting caves in the Dinaric Alps mountain range, which is famous worldwide for its karstic and speleological riches. Its entrance it not far from the village of Zavala in southern Herzegovina. In the warmer parts of the year a strong blast of cold air blows from its entrance, which is very attractive in the middle of the rocky, hot and waterless terrain. The cave has been explored and described to a total of about 6.7 km in length; of this the main channel is about 2.47 km long. It runs from the edge of Popovo Polje to the south, and on the basis of analysis of the terrain, geologists have predicted that Vjetrenica could stretch right to the Adriatic Sea in the Republic of Croatia, 15 20 km away from its entrance. Along with the hydrological arguments, this assumption is also supported by the "unnatural" end of Vjetrenica in the form of a huge heap of stone blocks that have caved in. Vjetrenica, as it known, is the richest cave in the world in terms of subterranean biodiversity: among more than two hundred different species are registered in it, almost hundred are troglophiles, a great number of them are narrow endemic, 15 are stenoendemic, and about 37 were discovered and described in Vjetrenica for the first time.

he Steci [stettsi] (singular: Steak [stetak]), are monumental medieval tombstones that lie scattered across Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the border parts of Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, although almost exclusively following the borders of medieval Bosnian state. An estimated 60,000 are found within the borders of modern Bosnia and Herzegovina and the rest of 10,000 are found in what are today Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro.[1] Appearing in the 11th century, the Steci reached their peak in the 14th and 15th century, before disappearing during the Ottoman occupation. Steci - tombstones belonging to the medieval Kingdom of Bosnia and the Bosnian Church (Bosnian heretics), who was part of the European rebellion against the Vatican. [citation needed] The Epitaph on the Steci tombstones are written in Bosnian Cyrillic alphabet (the so called "Bosanica" [bosatitsa]) and the alphabets belonging to the Bosnian church and medieval Kingdom of Bosnia. The largest collection of Steci are outside the city of Radimlja in Herzegovina. The Steci have been nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List as Joint Cultural Heritage by the four countries in 2009.[1] Since 1995, Hutovo Blato has been protected as a Hutovo Blato Nature Park and managed by a public authority. The whole zone is well protected from human impact and functions as an important habitat for [4] many plants and animals . Historical site, Old Fortress Hutovo Blato, is located in the area of Nature Park. Nature Park Hutovo Blato is located in the South-Western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 30 km from City of Mostar and near the Croatian border. It stretches over an area of about 7,411 ha and represents one of the richest wetland reserves in Europe. Until 1995, when the cantonal protected area was founded, Hutovo Blato represented well-known area mainly for its hunting and fishing tourism. Every winter over 200 species of birds [7] find their shelter inside this untouched nature. Visitors can enjoy relaxation, recreational activities in nature, sport-fishing, cycling and main tourist attraction photo safari. There is also an educational path providing information of park and for rising environmental awareness and need for preservation of natural heritage in Nature park Hutovo Blato.
[5][6]

Poitelj is a town in the apljina municipality, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The historic site of Poitelj is located on the left bank of the river Neretva, on the main Mostar to Metkovi road, and it is to the south of Mostar. During the Middle Ages, Poitelj was considered the administrative centre and centre of governance of Dubrava upa (county), while its westernmost point gave it ma jor strategic importance. It is believed that the fortified town along with its attendant settlements were built by Bosnia's King Stjepan Tvrtko I in 1383. The walled town of Poitelj evolved in the period from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Architecturally, the stone-constructed parts of the town are a fortified complex, in which two stages of evolution are evident: mediaeval, and Ottoman.[1] Bosnian Pot (Bosanski Lonac) is an authentic Bosnian culinary speciality, appreciated for its rich taste and flexibility. It is impossible to define the recipe for Bosanski lonac, as there are many variations, but the main ingredients are mostly the same: meat and various vegetables. It has been on tables of both the rich and the poor for hundreds of years. Rich people used more meat and other expensive ingredients, while the poor used what was available. Typical ingredients are: beef, lamb, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, parsley, garlic, peppercorns (whole, not ground). Many different vegetables or meats may be used. The Bosanski lonac is prepared by layering meat and vegetables (alternating layers of meat and vegetables until the pot is full) into a deep pot, then adding 1 - 2 dl water or white wine. The ingredients should be cut into large pieces rather than finely chopped or minced. Originally, Bosanski lonac was made in ceramic pots, that were then put in the fireplace or pit in the ground. That would be perfect, but today, not everyone has a fireplace available for cooking, so cooks may use a regular pot and their kitchen stove. Since the pieces of meat and vegetables are rather large, it takes about 4 hours till the meal is cooked. The Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound or Bosanski Otrodlaki Goni, also called the Barak, is a hunting dog breed developed in Bosnia. The breed is a scenthound, originally used to hunt large game. The "Bosanski

Otrodlaki Goni's" name is translated as coarse -haired, broken-haired, and rough-haired (among others), and refers to the texture of the shaggy coat (usually called broken-haired or hard in English.)

History The former name given to the breed was Illyrian Hound, referring to a pre-Slavic people of the area. Today's breed is descended from indigenous dog types, crossed with an Italian gun dog in the 1890s.[1] "Local hunters, wanting to produce an efficient scent hound, developed this breed in the nineteenth century, using the available stock of dogs."[2] The early type of today's smaller Istrian Shorthaired Hound may also have contributed to the Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound. The Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound was first recognised by the Fdration Cynologique Internationale in 1965 under the name of "Illyrian Hound". The name was changed to more accurately describe its area of origin in Bosnia. The breed is in Group 6, Scenthounds, Section 1.1 Large-sized Hounds, and is breed number 155. It is also recognised by the United Kennel Club (US) as the "Barak", in the Scenthound Group.[3] The breed is not recognised by any other major kennel clubs in the English speaking world, although many minor kennel clubs, internet dog registry businesses, and rare breed registries promote and register it as a unique pet. Tornjaks are large and powerful dogs, with well proportioned, almost square bodied features and agile movements Tornjak has a calm temperament. A typical adult Tornjak is very calm, peaceful, on first sight an indifferent animal, but when the situation demands it, it is a vigilant, a very alert watchdog. The character of Tornjak is equal to the temperament, they are not nervous and not aggressive in general, they are very tough, not demanding, and sturdy dogs. With their human family they are very emotional. When the Tornjak live in a pack they are highly social animals, and there is not any fighting between pack members. Toward strangers or other animals, as a rule, Tornjak is not emphasized aggressive. But when the situation calls upon it, Tornjak acts very determined and it can without consideration attack much stronger rivals. Shepherds used to say that a Tornjak who guards the flock is a fair match to two wolves, and a couple will encounter and chase away a bear without any undue respect. In these situations Tornjaks are very persistent. The olm, or proteus (Proteus anguinus), is a blind amphibian endemic to the subterranean waters of caves of the Dinaric karst of Central and Southeastern Europe. It lives in the waters that flow underground through this extensive limestone region, including waters of the Soa river basin near Trieste, Italy, through to southern Slovenia, southwestern Croatia, and Herzegovina.[2] The olm is the only species in the Proteus genus, the only European species of the Proteidae family, and the only cave-dwelling chordate found only in Europe. It is also occasionally called the "human fish" by locals because of its skin color, similar to that of white people (translated literally from Slovene: loveka ribica and Croatian: ovjeja ribica), as well as "cave salamander" or "white salamander."[3] In Slovenia, it is also known by the name moeril, which translates as "the one that burrows into wetness."[4] This animal is most notable for its adaptations to a life of complete darkness in its underground habitat. The olm's eyes are undeveloped, leaving it blind, while its other senses, particularly those of smell and hearing, are acutely developed. It also lacks any pigmentation in its skin. In contrast to most amphibians, the olm is entirely aquatic, and it eats, sleeps, and breeds underwater. It has three toes on its forelimbs, but two toes on its hind feet. It also exhibits neoteny, retaining larval characteristics like external gills into adulthood,[5] like the American amphibians, the axolotl and the mud puppy. aarija (pronounced [ba.tr.i.ja]) is Sarajevo's old bazaar and the historical and cultural center of the city. Baarija was built in the 15th century when Isa-Beg Isakovi founded the town.[1] The word Baarija derives from the Turkish language. The word "ba" which is "ba" in Turkish literally means "head", in some contexts however also "primary", "main", "capital" and "arija" which is "ar" in Turkish means "bazaar" or "market".[2] Due to the large fire in the 19 century, today Baarija is twice smaller than it once was.

Baarija is located on the north bank of the river Miljacka, in the municipality of Stari Grad. On Baarija there are several important historic buildings, such as the Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque and sahat-kula. Today Baarija is the major tourist attraction of Sarajevo.[3]

History Before the arrival of the Ottomans in the largest settlement on Sarajevo field was the village square Tornik, which was located at the crossroad of the roads where today is the Ali Pasha's Mosque. Baarija was built in 1462 when Isa-Beg Isakovi built the Ishakovi han, in addition to its many shops. At that time, most of the inhabitants of Sarajevo lived in the vicinity of the Emperor's Mosque. Therefore, Isa-Beg Isakovi built a bridge across the Miljacka to focus the main Sarajevo suburb and a new economic center o f the city, Baarija. Around the main entrance, the Bazerdani arija was formed. The arija Kazaz is situated to the west, and to the north sit both the arija Sedlar and Saraa. The most significant buildings constructed during this period are the mosques. Baarija's famous mosque was built by Haveda Durak in 1528, and Gazi Husrev-beg built his mosque in 1530.

One of the entrances to the Gazi Husrev-Beg's Bezistan Gazi Husrev-Beg raises a madrassa, a library, a haniqah, the Gazi Husrev-Beg Hamam, the Gazi Husrev-Beg bezistan, the Moria Han, sahat-kula and other tourist attractions in Baarija. Gazi Husrev-Beg was buried in the harem of his mosque, beside the harem is the Trbe of his freed slave and the first mutevelija of his vakuf Murat-beg Tardi. At this time a number of commercial facilities was built, such as bezistans, hans, and caravanserais. Sarajevo was an important center of trade in the Balkans and had three bezistans (today the Gazi Husrev-Bey bezistan and Brusa bezistan are still standing). There were colonies of Venetians and Dubrovnik traders, and Baarija had approximately 12,000 commercial and craft shops. After the earthquake in 1640 and several fires in 1644 and 1656, Sarajevo was 1697 burned and devastated by the troops of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Travel writer Evliya elebi wrote: " The arija has in everything, one thousand and eighty stores that are a model of beauty. The arija is very attractive and built according to plan." To the 19th century, the area of Sarajevo doesn't spread. With the Austro-Hungarian occupation in the 1878th year, foreign architects have wanted to make Sarajevo into a modern European city. A great fire helped them, it destroyed the Stari Grad except the part that is still there. That is how today's well-known boundary between Baarija and the street Ferhadija was made. With the liberation of Sarajevo in 1945, a new city people's committee has decided that the arija should be gradually destroyed, believing that the old shopping center has no role in the modern city.[