NOVI SAD is the capital of the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina, and the administrative centre of the South Bačka District.Novi Sad is Serbia's second largest city, after Belgrade . The city is located on the border of the Bačka and Srem regions, on the banks of the Danube river and Danube-Tisa-Danube Channel, while facing the northern slopes of Fruska Gora mountain.
Since it was founded in 1694, Novi Sad became the centre of Serbian culture and earned its nickname Serbian Athens. Today, Novi Sad is a large industrial and financial centre of the Serbian economy, and it is also one of the biggest construction sites in the region.
Human settlement in the territory of present-day Novi Sad has been traced as far back as the Stone Age (about 4500 BC). This settlement was located on the right side of the river Danube in the territory of present-day Petrovaradin.
Today, Novi Sad is the second cultural centre in Serbia. City's officials try to make the city more attractive to numerous cultural events and music concerts.
Since 2000, Novi Sad is home to the EXIT festival, the biggest music summer festival in Serbia and the region; and the only festival of alternative and new theatre in Serbia also known as State of EXIT is an annual summer music festival in the Petrovaradin fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia. It is staged annually since 2000 and usually lasts four days . Held in the picturesque setting of an eighteenth century fortress by the Danube, the festival quickly grew in worlds stature and reputation. UK Festival Awards 2007, together with Yourope, the European Association of the 40 largest festivals in Europe, awarded EXIT as the Best European Festival. Public from all over the world voted for about a month, and among 10 festivals, EXIT won this award that is being awarded for the first time in the category of the Best European Festival.
Besides Serbian National Theatre, the most prominent theatres are also Youth Theatre, Cultural centre of Novi Sad, and Serbian National Theatre. Novi Sad Synagogue also houses many cultural events in the City. Other city's cultural institutions include Offset of the Serbian Academy of Science and Art, Library of Matica Srpska, Novi Sad City Library, Archive of Novi Sad and Azbukum. Apart from the culture of attending sports events, people from Novi Sad participate in a wide range of recreational and leisure activities. Football and basketball are the most popular participation team sports in Novi Sad. Cycling is also a very popular in Novi Sad. Novi Sad's flat terrain and extensive off-road paths in the mountainous part of town, in Fruska Gora is conducive to riding. Hundreds of commuters cycle the roads, bike lanes and bike paths daily. Close proximity to the Fruška Gora National Park attract many people from the city on weekends in many hiking trails, restaurants and monasteries on the mountain. In the first weekend of May, there is a "Fruška Gora Marathon", with many hiking trails for hikers, runners and cyclists.
Jovan Jovanovic Zmaj Grammar School
Churches and monasteries:
•The Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George (Saborna Crkva) -the Main Orthodox church in the City (1742) • Roman Catholic Church (1895) • Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas(1730) • Almas church(1797) • The Church of Holy Dormition (Uspenska crkva) (1736)
Roman Catholic church named after Virgin Mary
• Kovilj Monastery- founded by the first Serbian archbishop Saint Sava in the 13th century • Evangelistic (Slovak) Church (1886) • Saints Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church (1820) • Bishops Palace • Novi Sad Synagogue (1906)
Kovilj Monastery
Business and sport centres:
• Novi Sad’s Fairwww.sajam.net • SPENS – Sports center • NIS Business building • Stadium Vojvodina
Novi Sad`s Fair
SPENS
NIS Building - Headquarter of Petroleum Industry of Serbia
Cultural and historical monuments
• Museum of Vojvodina • Matica Srpska • Serbian National Theatre • Petrovaradin Fortress
