Serbia: The Bradt Travel Guide - European Travel Books

Paperback - 01 June, 2005 - Bradt Travel Guides
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By: Laurence Mitchell
ISBN: 1841621188

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Reviews by readers

The first 'all-in' guidebook to Serbia in English: Buy it!

The book is authored by Laurence Mitchell and published as his first contribution to the Bradt guides. People in the know are aware of how difficult and complicated Serbia is, or what might be the problems the author had to solve while collecting data and checking out the situation on the spot. It is for this that the book should be additionally and particularly appreciated.

Bradt's 'Serbia' is amazingly informative, surprisingly accurate and, most of all, supplied with well-judged and sincere comments. The text consists of 9 chapters, including background information on geography, history, Art and architecture, literature, even cinema and music. The author made use of additional 'boxes' in order to focus the reader's attention on some more important or interesting details, such as biographies of historical personalities, important historical events, local customs, offbeat or weird attractions and sights, and the like. Apart from an insight into literally all geographical regions of this country, the author offers a lot of helpful practical information and suggestions. After paging through this book one almost feels intimately knowledgeable with all aspects of Serbia: its history, the people and culture.

Here are just two examples that ilustrate his charming writing sytle. Depicting a local town hotel somewhere inside Serbia, he writes: 'You cannot fail to notice this 3 star monstrosity in the centre of town... The carpets range from threadbare to completely worn out, and the eccentric and numerous light fittings, have clearly seen better days - I counted 13 in my room, 7 of which worked.' In case of the largest Belgrade's open-air market, Mitchell comments: "...Every imaginable type of food produce is sold here: vast piles of seasonal fruit, heaving mound peppers, rounds of cheese, hams, wooden tubs of 'kajmak', and enough garlic to dispatch any vampire straight back to Transylvania..."

There is a large section on Belgrade, as well as several sections on different regions of Serbia, including the southern province of Kosovo. Laurence Mitchell explains both the past and the present-day situation in that southern province, starting with the following comment: "Kosova - if you are Albanian, Kosovo-Metohija if you are a Serb - even the name is a political issue. This troubled province remains at the heart of Serbian thinking and is a place of great spiritual importance for many Orthodox Serbs." On the other hand, we can see that some other guidebooks (such as the famous Blue Guide) cover "Albania and Kosovo" as a travel destination (!?).

Twenty six well-drawn and vivid maps and plans attached to the text serve as both an illustration and information. The pictures are good and packed into 8 color pages, but in my opinion any guidebook should have more extensive photo material. In fact, a few additional photos scattered throughout the text (especially those of Belgrade's cosmopolitan face - Republic Square, pedestrian zone, open-air cafes) would have done the job. And, this would be my only criticism of the otherwise superb Mitchell's book. There are, of course, some errors in the book, but that was inevitably caused by such extensive and 'all-in' approach.

Laurence Mitchell acknowledges that Serbia is currently not an ideally organized travel destination, but he also points out on a widely spread and erroneous viewpoint of many abroad which still prevails over the factual situation in the country. He writes in his 'Introduction': "Hopefully, I have rectified this situation to some extent with the publication of this guide. Serbia should get the recognition - and visitors - it deserves. Please visit Serbia, you know it makes sense."

This book can be read on the coffee table at home, on the plane or train to Serbia, or (more effectively and with the best result) on the spot when you are about to explore the varied and somewhat contrasted facets of this Balkan country. Buy the book and accept the challenge it has to offer: visit Serbia and discover offbeat travel attractions you never knew existed!

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