Who was Svetozar Miletić
Svetozar Miletić lived from 1826 to 1901. He was a lawyer, a politician and mayor of Novi Sad, and played an important role in the political life of the Serbs in the Habsburg Monarchy. His name therefore belongs to the story of the city’s public life, not just to a list of people that streets are named after. When you stop in front of the monument, you are looking at a memorial to a man who helped shape the civic life of Novi Sad.
Who made the monument
The bronze monument is the work of the sculptor Ivan Meštrović. It was first put up in 1939 and, after being removed during the Second World War, was returned in 1944. These facts give extra meaning to a spot that is often seen only as a backdrop for photos. Notice the figure, the stance and the way the monument relates to the space of the square; only then do you see how central a place it holds in the square’s composition.
What to look at when you reach the square
First take a slow look all the way round, and only then carry on walking. Notice how large public buildings, shops and cafés and the openings of the surrounding streets follow one another around the open space. Then pick one direction: Zmaj Jovina Street leads you further into the pedestrian centre, while a short detour into the side streets reveals a different pace of the centre. When photographing the monument, it helps to change your angle so that the architecture behind it, which shows where you are, is in the picture too.
From the city’s history to a lunch break
Your tour doesn’t have to end on the square. After your walk you can make time for a home-cooked lunch in the nearby streets, bringing together two things you remember a trip by: what you learned and what you tasted. To continue the tour, see our plan for a day in Novi Sad. If food appeals to you more, start with the Vojvodina dishes worth getting to know.
Lazin Salaš is in Laze Telečkog Street, in the old town centre. Before you come, look at our menu and decide whether you would rather have a hot soup, a cooked dish or a dessert with your break. When you come as a group, reserving a table means you can follow your historical walk with a meal together, rather than hunting for a free table at the last minute.
