As a tourist guide I have visited many cities in Europe such as Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. The attraction of tourists I have travelled with is usually attracted by only grandiose palaces and I am personally more and more attracted by palaces and cities with a kind of hidden beauty and soul. The city I live in, Novi Sad and its palaces certainly do have them!
At the Boulevard of Mihajlo Pupin there is Banovina (currently the Assembly of Vojvodina). It dominates with its size, radiates with a vision of strength and power. The architect’s wish was to show the power of a new kingdom (Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and the Danube Banovina so that nothing was economized on – the exterior facade cladding was made of famous white marble from Brač.
Across the road, at the outskirts of Dunavski (Danube) Park there is the House of National Health (Dom narodnog zdravlja). It was erected immediately after the World War I and the architect was Yuri Nikolaevich Schreter. The building was built in the Russian classicism after the model of the Senate building in Saint Petersburg. Since they had to leave their homeland carried by the whirlwind of the civil war, the architect wanted to restore a small piece of the Russian Empire in a new homeland as he was unable to re-establish it in reality.
The things that have always fascinated me were the details lying down in front of our eyes that we usually don’t even see. If we walk from the House of National Health through Dunavski (Danube) Park and reach the beginning of the pedestrian zone of Dunavska (Danube) Street we could see quite mysterious details on the building on the right side that currently accommodates the Foreign Art Collection. Those who love mysteries and conspiracy theories may find the symbols of a hammer, ruler and calliper in the medallion located close to the top of the building.
On the very corner of Miletićeva and Grčkoškolska streets there is one of the palaces that used to belong to the Dunđerski family. They used to be the richest family in Vojvodina. It is said they could cross from one end of Vojvodina to another without stepping out of their land. This beautiful palace with red facade is one of the symbols of power and wealth of this family but it is also connected with some dark events from the city’s history. It is known as the House of Horror! Both sons of an aged Jaša Dunđerski committed suicide there in a brutal way.
Actually, when I think about it each palace is a secret on its own ad if we try hard we can always find out something new!
On the junction of three borders of Zmaj Jovina, Dunavska and Pašićeva streets, there is the Bishop’s Palace built at the beginning of the 20th century. All that can be said is that it simply dominates its surroundings. Thanks to the great skill of the famous architect Vladimir Nikolić, the power of the Bačka bishop is expressed through the harmony, size and beauty of the building and the facade. But that’s not all! It always pays out to make an additional effort. If you approach the fence of the St. George Congregational Church yard, look at the entrance to the courtyard from the church yard. Above the door you will see a beautiful coat of arms that adorned the court of the famous Bishop Visarion Pavlović, by the middle of the 18th century.
I love my city because of many small details scattered across numerous palaces of our city since every detail hides another story. Discover the stories of Novi Sad palaces because I am certain that things they want to tell you about will leave an impression!
Srđan Bošković
