Bosnia and Herzegovina

Mostar and Sarajevo - June 2023

By Francisco Morais

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Mostar & Sarajevo

Mostar’s iconic bridge arches effortlessly over the emerald Neretva River, its single span a centuries-old testament to connection and recovery. Nearby lanes unfold into bazaars alive with copper lanterns, woven rugs, and the mingled scents of spices and roasting meat.

In Sarajevo, we crossed the border listening to “Miss Sarajevo” by Passengers—U2’s side project featuring Luciano Pavarotti—through the car’s speakers. The song’s blend of hope and melancholy felt like an overture to the city’s layered narrative.

Sarajevo unfolds as a collage of Ottoman domes, Austro-Hungarian façades, and socialist-era blocks. Minarets and church spires share the skyline, and narrow streets echo with the ring of tram bells and the chatter of market stalls.

Under the shadow of surrounding mountains, Sarajevo moves with quiet resilience. Vendors offer baklava, fresh fruit, and handwritten postcards, each small act of daily life flourishing amid a city woven from memory and renewal.