The Old town of Sarajevo is a thriving art scene, festivals and a fascinating mix of Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, Slavic, Muslim, Orthodox, catholic and Jewish cultures, is sometimes referred to as Bascarsija, the name of these streets in 15th century Ottoman built market place. The hillside fortifications of Sarajevo’s outskirts predate to the Bascarsija by a few thousand years. The Old Town as it’s known today was designed by Sarajevo’s Ottoman rulers to promote trade and industry in the valley. Its marketplaces, mosques and madrassas and the growing metropolis, famously described as a place where East meets West. At its heart is Sebilj , a pseudo-Moorish fountain which is one of the city’s most recognizable symbols.
