Belgrade to Sremski Karlovci and Zrenjanin: Private day trip

Starting as a Roman fort, the picture-perfect town of Sremski Karlovaci became a major cultural and spiritual center in the 18th century, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful Baroque buildings. These are best exemplified by the town’s religious edifices, such as the St Nicholas Orthodox cathedral, built in 1758, which is filled with art and fine woodwork, while the stately Orthodox Theological Seminary - the second of its kind in the world. In the heart of town, the magnificent Four Lions fountain embodies the town’s charms - it’s said that anyone who drinks from the fountain will return to Karlovci to be married. At the southern end of town, the charming yellow Chapel of Peace marks the spot where the the Austrians and Turks signed the 1699 Peace Treaty. Once you’ve had your fill of architecture, be sure to pay a visit to one of the local wine cellars for a taste of local culture.

First mentioned in the 14th century, when it was a village of Hungarian farmers, Zrenjanin’s long history has helped it grow into a vibrant, multi-cultural hub. Under the Ottoman rule from 1551 to 1717, the city became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes after the First World War. Today, the city is filled with monuments from the 18th to 19th centuries. At the heart of the city’s languid Liberty Square, a statue of Peter I of Yugoslavia keeps watch over the surrounding architecture. The neo-Baroque city hall was built as a symbol of the city’s economic power, and exhibits some beautiful architectural details, stucco, and stained glass windows. The nearby neo-Romanesque Cathedral is filled with frescoes and stained glass, but it’s the copy of Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” attracts the most attention.