Big Roman tour

The powerful Roman legions, marking their dominance in the southern Balkans by the mid-2nd century BCE, set the stage for an era of unparalleled architectural and cultural transformation. It wasn’t until the reign of Octavian Augustus, however, that the central Balkan region, including the territory of modern-day Belgrade, was fully incorporated into the empire. Here, at the merge of the Sava and Danube rivers, the Romans encountered the remnants of the Celtic city of Singidun and established the military camp of Singidunum.

Subsequently, a civilian settlement blossomed on the southern side of the IV Flavia legion’s camp, evolving into a bustling municipium under Emperor Trajan’s rule. This strategic location became a vital link in the network of Roman fortifications known as the Limes, serving as the boundary between the civilized Roman world and the barbaricum beyond.

Our Big Roman Tour starts at either “Big Tours” headquarters or Republic Square at 10:00 AM, offering a journey through Belgrade’s Roman past. As we meander through the heart of the city, the remnants of Roman baths (thermae) signify the importance of social and hygienic practices within Roman society. Further discoveries, such as a Decumanus street and a vital aqueduct, highlight the sophisticated urban planning and engineering skills that characterized Roman urban development.

Our itinerary leads us through Kalemegdan Park to the Zindan gate, where the remains of Roman walls tells tales of ancient sieges and daily life on the frontier. Then, our journey continues to the Upper City, revealing the foundations of a Roman castrum, and the white stone quarried from Tašmajdan, used for centuries in the construction of Belgrade’s fortifications and buildings. This limestone, visible from afar, signified the might of the Roman presence on the Kalemegdan ridge.

Descending into the fortress’s underground, the tour explores Lapidarium, home to numerous steles that testify the affluence of Roman citizens in Singidunum. As we ascend back to the Upper City, panoramic views from Kalemegdan offer a glimpse into the strategic landscape that has remained largely unchanged since antiquity.

A pause beside Roman sarcophagi allows for stories of Roman deities and the grand celebrations and sacrifices made in their honor.

The narrative of Rome’s highly disciplined legions, numbering around 5,000 soldiers, unveils the secrets behind Rome’s enduring success. Nearby, large Roman villas, critical for food production, underscore the empire’s economic strategies for sustaining its urban populations. The construction of extensive road networks, such as the Via Militaris, facilitated movement and commerce across the empire, its routes still traced in the modern landscape.

Crossing the river to Zemun’s historic heart, we visit Gardoš and its Millennium Tower, built upon the ancient city of Taurunum. Though smaller than Singidunum, Taurunum’s strategic importance for defending the region was undeniable, part of a sophisticated defense system along the Roman Limes.

From the heights of Gardoš Tower, we envisage Singidunum through the eyes of Taurunum’s sentinels, before breaking for lunch in a restaurant featuring traditional Balkan cuisine.

The journey then takes us to mountain Avala, a site with few preserved Roman artifacts rich in resources sought by Rome, including the mines on Kosmaj mountain. The summit of Avala, now marked by the Monument to the Unknown Hero, once hosted a Roman fortress guarding the city’s southern approaches. Here, among the hills of Šumadija, we reflect on the legacy of Roman rule, which lasted until the mid-5th century, a period of cultural assimilation and military dominance.

As we drive back to the city center, the story culminates in the year 441, when Attila the Hun breached the Roman Limes, plundering the wealth of Roman cities that never regained their former glory.

Our Big Roman Tour retraces the architectural and historical footprints left by the famous empire and connects us to the enduring influence of Rome on the Balkans and the continuous narrative of civilization’s rise and fall.