About the Host City
Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, is a modern city carrying a rich and turbulent past. It sits at the confluence of two rivers, Danube and Sava, overlooked by the historical Kalemegdan fortress and surrounded by beautiful parks and museums. A city at the crossroads between East and West, North and South, where many civilisations left their mark - From Celtic tribes and the Roman Empire, Avars and Slavs, to the Ottoman and the Austro-Hungarian Empires. Conflicts have occurred many times in these parts, up until the beginning of the 21st century, causing Belgrade to be destroyed and rebuilt more than forty times over the course of many centuries.
The diverse history and heritage, the legacy of the past, expressed through its variety in architecture and an abundant cultural scene, helped Belgrade emerge today as an interesting place that attracts visitors from all over the world. Belgrade is characterised by its resilience and knows about different currents of culture and influence - perhaps a fitting place for a discussion on how to bring divided worlds together.
