Learning history and geography in underground Belgrade

On Monday, 24 April, an interdisciplinary history and geography lesson was held in a very unusual location – in the hidden underground parts of Belgrade. Walking below the streets of the Serbian capital, Savremena’s students discovered its past and listened to stories about important historical events that took place at the very location.

When capital city reveals its secrets

Belgrade’s rich history is hidden in the caves, pathways, walled rivers, tunnels, bunkers and numerous buildings demolished and created by the peoples inhabiting the area throughout centuries. The underground recounts the legend of Belgrade from Roman, Austrian, Turkish, and Serbian period, each of which carries an authentic charm.

Savremena’s students started the exciting tour by visiting the Roman Hall, which contains the foundation of the main gate of the Roman fortress from the 2nd century. There, they discussed the reasons why the Romans and numerous subsequent conquerors came to this region.

The bunker from the Cominform period revealed the spy secrets and political games between president Tito and the great forces after World War II. The route then led Savremena’s students to the big gunpowder warehouse, whose walls, built by the Austrians as the last line of defence, tell the stories about defending Christian Europe from the Turks. The students were particularly intrigued by the rooms that were built for storing the most important goods, and which today represent the Roman lapidarium containing sarcophagi, gravestones, and sacrificial altars found in Serbia.

At the end of this journey through time, Savremena’s students got to the wine cellar evoking the time of the Serbian liberation from Turkish rule and the development of Savamala.

Roman Well – highlight of school trip

Savremena’s students’ biggest impression was the visit to the Roman Well, since there they heard the story about one of the most brutal murders in our history.

In 1494, when Kalemegdan was the most important Hungarian and Christian stronghold, some 37 Hungarian plotters were planning to hand over the city of Belgrade without fighting the Turks.

The pasha from Smederevo made a deal with the wealthy Croatian nobleman, Lovro Iločki, whom he bribed with an enormous amount of money. The handover of the city would probably have gone well if the Hungarian duke Paul hadn’t heard about the scheme. He was in Timisoara at the time, and immediately headed to Belgrade with his troops. He chased the Turks away from the rampart, after which the clash with the plotters ensued.

The legend describes this event as one of the most brutal executions in history. With ropes, the plotters were taken down to the bottom of a big silo, which was located where the today’s well is. When their minds dimmed due to hunger, they were thrown knives and they literally ate one another.

Mastering the lay of the land and the teacher of life

The unforgettable lesson, which left Savremena’s students breathless, discovered the unusual history of Belgrade, numerous legends and incredible fates of people. An interesting and different approach to lessons allows Savremena’s students to be active participants in their learning process on a daily basis, and to broaden their knowledge and connect it to specific, practical experience, which is an educational goal shared by Savremena.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.