Belgrade, Serbia: City Overview
Located at the confluence of the Sava River with the Danube and on the border of the Pannonian Plain with the Balkan Peninsula, Belgrade extends over an area of 3,222.68 km², which occupies 3.6% of the territory of the Republic. The metropolitan area is home to a population of 1,756,534 inhabitants, which represents 21% of the Serbian population, making it also the fourth most populous city in southeastern Europe, after Istanbul, Athens and Bucharest. As the capital of Serbia, Belgrade is home to the main state agencies and institutions, as well as the most important universities and research establishments. It is also the economic engine of the country, with a unique agricultural sector, and the main center for the dissemination of Serbian culture. It is one of the oldest cities in Europe, with a history that goes back almost 7,000 years, often in turmoil, as it was the scene of clashes between the powers that successively dominated the region. The first settlements appeared with the prehistoric Vinča culture around 4800 BC. C. In the III century a. C. the Celts settled, and later, the Romans founded the city of Singidunum. of the Despotate of Serbia. Later it was also the capital of the Principality of Serbia, which became the Kingdom of Serbia in 1882, as well as of the different state variations of Yugoslavia between 1918 and 2003, as well as of the Confederation of Serbia and Montenegro until its dissolution in 2006.