We say that Serbia is at the crossroads of Europe to Asia, because it is located on the Balkan Peninsula.

Thats why it is also a mixture of civilizations, cultures, faiths, climates and even landscapes, and therefore very interesting as a tourist destination. It has beautiful mountains, national parks, rivers and lakes that are the perfect for hunting, fishing and extreme sports. There are also plenty of cultural, archeological and historical sites and all year round, numerous cultural, entertaining, traditional and sporting events are held in Serbia. Serbian people are also famous. Many famous Serbs made great contributions to world science, art and culture. People in Serbia have good university education, they have knowledge of foreign languages and readily accept new technologies and behaviors. If all of Serbias knowledge, talent and spirit, which is currently scattered throughout the world, were gathered in one place, Serbia would be one of the leading powers in many fields. People`s manners and behavior are also well known already, so the foreign visitors very fast discover their hospitality, kindness, openness and warmth. Serbia is also famous for sports so its main export are world-class players of basketball, tennis, footballers, volleyball, water-polo and handball. Today, Serbia is a modern, democratic European country, on the path to membership of the European Union, which a diverse range of visitors from young backpackers to participants in congresses and fairs visit every day. Statistically, the most-visited tourist destinations are the cities of Belgrade and Novi Sad, the mountains of Kopaonik and Zlatibor and the spa towns of Vrnjaka Banja and Sokobanja. If you visit cities and towns of Serbia all in all they will provide you with the combination of eastern passion and European elegance. In villages, surrounded by nature you will have the chance to go for walks through meadows and forests, visit nearby caves, springs and waterfalls, to go hunting and fishing, horse riding and hiking or picking forest fruit and medicinal plants, as well as to enjoy the folk customs, games and songs of the region. Serbias spas, over 53 thermal ones, are health resorts thanks to their climate and geographic locations. They have been adapted to treat a wide range of health ailments and diseases and involve drinking medicinal water or taking medicinal baths. Serbian mountains are associated with natural riches, rare plant and animals. There are five national parks with lots of brooks and fast-flowing streams or crystal clear lakes. Those with an adventurous spirit can explore karst caves and river canyons and the ski slopes and lifts await tourists in the winter, whether they are beginners or experienced skiers. Both domestic and international tourists are especially interested in festivities that preserve tradition, custom, folklore and handicrafts.

If you ask which are the destinations you should visit, I may recommend you some. Belgrade, the capital city, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, with Ada Ciganlija, known as the Belgrade Sea, Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park promises an action-packed day and many restaurants by the river and elsewhere have a tempting offer for night life. Fruka Gora mountain, known as Serbias Mount Athos, with 17 monasteries dating from the 15th to 18th centuries is good to begin your journey through Vojvodina, known for its numerous farmsteads (salai), stables, wine cellars, food and, of course, the EXIT music festival held annually in the Petrovaradin Fortress in Novi Sad. If you sail along the Danube, you will discover traces of prehistoric civilisations, such as Vina and Lepenski Vir. You will also come across Roman-era Viminacium, formerly one of the most important military camps on the Danube. In the south there is Ni, the birthplace of Constantine the Great, in whose time Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Southern Serbia is known for its energetic music, flavoursome food, Pirot carpets, peppers and kakavalj (caciocavallo) cheese. In Leskovac, you should taste the best grilled meat in the whole of Serbia. Stara Planina in eastern Serbia is good for skiing or hiking in the midst of unspoilt nature. A little further south there is Vlasinsko Jezero lake with its floating islands. In western Serbia that offers an entirely different landscape and experience you should stop in Oplenac, a cultural and historical site with the mausoleum of the Serbian Karaorevi family dynasty. Then, go through the Valley of the Kings, from the 13th-century ica monastery to the 12th-century Studenica monastery. The 13th-century Gradac monastery, the endowment of French princess Helen of Anjou, the wife of King Uro and Nemanji is also worth seeing. In this area there are numerous mountain rivers the Drina, Uvac, Lim and Ibar good for white water rafting. Then, take a train ride on the 1925 argan Eight (arganska Osmica) railway, whose tracks cut through the mountain landscape of Mokra Gora. Not far from here is the Sirogojno ethnic village with hospitable Serbian households, offering healthy, traditional food and local rakija (Serbian brandy), as well as traditional trades and handicrafts. You should also visit Drvengrad, a modern ethnic village built by famous Serbian film director Emir Kusturica. Many spas, like Vrnjaka Banja, Sokobanja, Banja Kanjia, Banja Koviljaa and Pali that were once frequented by Roman emperors and now by business people and top sportsmen and women, are ideal places for rest and relaxation. Or maybe a mountain health resort, such as Zlatibor, Zlatar or Divibare, would be more to your taste. Winter sports lovers know the Kopaonik mountain for skiing, but it slopes offer walking, flying, orienteering or even bird watching throughout the year. Nature has been generous to Serbia, but if you want to feel the tradition and spirit of the people visit its events whether tourist, cultural, sport or entertainment. Having all this in mind I highly recommend you visiting Serbia. We welcome you all year round.

PALIC Palic Tourist Complex is located on the north of Vojvodina, south from Palic settlement. It is about 7 kilometers southeast from the City of Subotica. Geomorphologically, the area can be classified as a plain, stretching along a large plateau with an average height of 20 meters. Due to these conditions, this area has a special agricultural Palic, the lake and the tourist centre under the same name, used to be a trendy resort and spa at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The local scenery has always been enhanced, updated and changing; however it avoided the challenges imposed by industrializing tourism. At present, Palic is an ideal rest and relax destination. There you can enjoy the shade of hundred-year old trees, swim in the lake and the thermal pool, or simply enjoy the excellent offer in region-specific food and drink. In brief, Palic is unique architecture, sport fields and attentive hosts. As to its climate, the area is characterized by continental climate (openness towards the Great Plain) with cold winters and hot summers and an annual mean temperature of 10,7C. In average, there are about 2100 sunny hours during the year (likewise in Opatija, in the Croatian Riviera). The mean air temperature in summer is 20 C. The typical wind direction is northwest-southeast. The lakeside is 17 km long, while the lake occupies an area of 4.6 km and is divided into 4 sectors. The most important sector foreseen for the tourists stretches over an area of 3.8 km. The lakes average depth is 1.9 m. During bathing season, lake water temperature varies between 18 C and 25 C. The lake is rich in fish. There are 3 attractive beaches within a radius of one kilometer. The Origin of the Lake Legend says that the lake is a remnant of the Pannonia Sea, yet formed by the teardrops of a certain shepherd, named Pavle, who used to herd his sheep on the location. The origins of the lake go back to prehistoric times, and though it was fed by springs, most of the lake water came from precipitation.The water from the surrounding terrain had flown to the lake and flushed out sodium chloride, hence it became salty. Palic Resort and Spa Lake Palic was first mentioned in written documents as Pali (Paly) in 1462. The first drawing, i.e. the map of the lake (Paligo Palus) is from 1690. The healing effects of the lake water and the mud were known as early as the 18th century. General practitioners from Subotica suggested building a spa on the shores of the lake in 1837. In 1845, besides the spa building comprising a few cabins, a restaurant was built as well. These facilities were the foundations of the subsequent resort and spa. Visitors came to Palic not only to recover (from diseases of bones and skin), but also to enjoy the superior offer in entertainment. The golden age of Palic Resort and Spa started in the 1880s after the Budapest-Zemun railway had been opened in 1883 and the introduction of tram in Subotica in 1897. Until World War I, the number of visitors to Palic Resort and Spa was increasing.

Lake Recovery Records from the end of the 19th century say, that due to permanent drops in water levels, decrease in the number of fishes, calm winds and wastewater influx, aquatic plants had started to flourish in the lake. That process had been repeated at times. The situation culminated in the summer of 1970, when the massive pollution and uncontrolled algal bloom caused the lack of oxygen in the water and it resulted in the desolation of the living world. Therefore, the lake was dried and desludged in 1971. A wastewater treatment plant was built, and in 1976 the lake was refilled with fresh water. Since then, the lake water quality has been perused and watched. The Recent History of Palic The first thermo-mineral water well was drilled in 1978, and the Thermal Pool was opened in 1984. Besides the wastewater treatment plant, the Tisa-Palic Canal was commissioned in 1995 and it enhanced lake water quality significantly. In the style of old villas, the Hotel Prezident was built in 2000, and after that some of the old villas, resort houses were regenerated and turned into small luxury hotels. Palic is well known as a tourist destination offering quality, and since 2007 it has an adopted Master Plan, guiding its development. A Stroll in Palic During the regeneration of Palic in the early 20th century, the architects of the buildings intended for rest and leisure, had the idea of entering Palic Spa through a lavishly decorated entrance, the Water Tower - Vodotoranj. Then, you enter the main avenue of the Park - Velikog parka, where the first trees were planted in 1840. This Park lies on an area of 19 hectares and represents a unique environment where natural values and architectural heritage are intertwined. Besides the mentioned Water Tower, this heritage comprises impressive facilities for rest and leisure: the Grand Terrace, the Music Pavilion and the Womens Lido. All of these buildings were formally opened in 1912 and were designed in Hungarian style art nouveau inspired by Hungarian folk elements, handicrafts, laces and embroidery. These exceptional buildings are the work of Marcell Komor and Dezs Jakab, who designed the City Hall and the Synagogue in the neighbouring city of Subotica. Before you reach the Grand Terrace take a turn towards the Tennis Club, which was established in 1878, only three years after the written rules of this sport were set. Close to it, hidden amid the old trees, you will find one of the most beautiful stages in the country. The Summer Stage was made of uncut stone in line with the design of Baltazar Dulic, an architect from Subotica, and since 1950 it has been the venue of many concerts, festivals and performances. The Grand Terrace, once called the Kur-Saloon and deliberately designed with a walk-through passage, leaves nobody indifferent. Once it was renowned for its monumental ball room. Yet, the two spacious terraces turned towards the lake are the heart of the building, which, after the regeneration, will serve as a spacious and modern conference centre. On the left and on the right sides of the Terrace there are two hotels hotel Park and hotel Jezero- built in the mid 19th century. The famous blue vases can be found in front of them. These vases, depicting the god of waters, arrived in Palic in 1910 as the gift by the owner of the famous Zsolnay Manufacture from Pcs. Similar vases decorated the Vienna City Park once.

From the Grand Terrace, your stroll may continue towards the lake. You will leave the Music Pavilion behind, which was built to host promenade concerts, still often organized for the guests in Palic. At the end of the promenade from the Water Tower, through the Grand Terrace to the lake, there is a Memorial Fountain. Nobody knows for sure whether the figure depicted on it is the fairy of the lake, born from the waves of Lake Palic or someone else, but it is known that the formal opening of the fountain on 15th September 1912 meant the end of the regeneration works in Palic Spa. The promenade then goes on along the lakeside to the Womens Lido which had long ago, under different social standards, hidden bathing women from the inquiring look of passers-by, although its unusual architecture still attracts visitors to stop by and have a look. The stroll along the shore named after Lajos Vermes leads you to Vermess villas built in 1893: the Lujza Villa and the Owls Fastness -Vile Luzja i Bagojvar and the monument of Lajos Vermes. The monument, erected in 2004, was made by Vera Gabric Pocuca a sculptor from Subotica. Vermes a proprietor from Subotica was a maecenas, sports-fan and competitor, and from 1880 till 1914, in the spirit of the Olympics, organized sport competitions in Palic and gathered the best athletes from Europe far and wide. The venues and fields for those competitions were in the vicinity of these buildings. The fish restaurant - Riblja arda on the lakeside used to be a gym. The ZOO is in the western part of the Complex and was established in 1950. Along the southern side of the ZOO several residential buildings were built, some of them are the oldest buildings in Palic, yet through regeneration they have lost their original looks and identity. The area between Lake Palic and Lake Omladina - Besides Hotel Prezident and the facility of the Meteorological Station, there are no buildings on the eastern lakeside. Most of this area has not been developed yet, and part of it is used as a parking lot (in front of the Men's Lido). Although we reach the end of the promenade, our stroll in Palic has not finished yet. We suggest to go back to the Grand Terrace and go northwards a bit, where you will find a fountain, made by Bela Naic in 1913. Next to it is the "weather house erected in 1914. There are numerous sculptures in this part of the Park, whereof the bronze figures of two nannies Bakica are especially interesting, since this artefact, depicting two elderly women peacefully sitting on a bench, perfectly fit into the surrounding. This pleasing sculpture was made by Zlata Baranja, a sculptor from Palic. The image of Palic is not made by the buildings and monuments only, but also by details, such as Hamvas linden planted in memory of the writer, who wrote the Philosophy of Wine, often referred to during Palic wine festivals. There is also a restaurant, called Mala gostiona, in operation on the same venue since 1853. Owing to its tradition and quality food, it became the synonym of Palic. Further on, there is one of the preserved old tram stations. Tram connected Subotica and Palic and was in operation between 1898 and 1974. On the other side of the road, there is a corner-building, once the Abbazia Cinema, which borrowed its name from the Italian name of Opatija, a city so akin in spirit to Palic.

From there, you enter the Split Avenue, the avenue of plane trees and the most attractive villas.The first villas in Palic were built in the mid 19th century and building such and similar resort houses was quite fashionable in the region at that time. The villas were built for the summer season and modelled after Swiss resort houses with emphasised carved porches. The gallery of Marija Karlovic Gabric Galerija is one among these villas. The exhibited paintings of flowers and Palic- around 100 - were made by this amateur painter. Your stroll in Palic may end there in the Split Alley, but you can also set out to discover some other local secrets from there. Mens Lido There are dilapidated facilities on this area (cabins), the thermal pool and a nondeveloped camping area along the motorway. The Sports and Recreational Centre-is located south from the Mens Lido and offers open-air sport fields for basketball, volleyball, football as well as accompanying facilities and dressing-rooms, indoor bowling arena and catering facilities(restaurants Brvnara and Fontana).There is also a hotel (Hotel Sport),which is out of function. Resort Area - This is a settlement south from the Sports Centre with recently built houses the quality, architecture and visual solution of which is arguable. Resort Market Positioning Lake Palic is a Pannonian bath destination and is an icon of key values in the field of active rest and leisure and health in this part of Europe. Internationally, it is recognized as a bath and wellness destination for the whole year, with an expressed emphasis on contents such as holding meetings, incentive stays and events, and which is building its sports profile. With its protected nature and cultural heritage, Palic offers unique services in the following key areas of experiences: Bath/wellness, meetings, conferences, incentives and events Family gatherings Summer and winter sport/recreational activities, Culture, heritage, gastronomy In its market positioning, Palic emphasises the following: Targeted towards the values of experiential positioning through careful building of the whole value chain(vocational specialisation) Creating emotional charge and reasons to return to Palic (loyalty to guests) Unique interaction of all elements and concepts through the model of a small lakeside riviera and creating a lakeside promenade (lungo lago); Separate approach to different areas of experiences (small universes in themselves).

Pali, a settlement and the lake, lies 8 km north of Subotica. The lake water was salty. Water and mud had some healing effects. The settlement was a trendy health resort at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The beginnings of tourism are linked to the year of 1845, when the first baths were built there. The lakeside is 17 km long and its average depth is 19 m. During bathing season, lake water temperature varies between 18 to 25 Legend says that the lake is a remnant of the Pannonia Sea, yet formed by the teardrops of a certain shepherd, named Pavle, who used to herd his sheep on the location. The Great Park (1840) represents a unique ambient, where natural values and architectural heritage make an overall harmony. The heritage and the picturesque villas create an atmosphere ideal for rest, leisure and delight. Let's name some of the facilities, which were all opened in 1912: the Water Tower, the Grand Terrace, which is being regenerated into a modern, multi-functional building, the Music Pavilion and the Women's Lido. They were designed in Hungarian art nouveau style. Before you reach the Grand Terrace take a turn towards the Tennis Club, which was established in 1878, only three years after the written rules of this sport were set. Lajos Vermes, a Subotica local lender gentleman, athlete and competitor, organized sport competitions between 1880 and 1914 in Pali and gathered the best athletes of the times from Central Europe. Many sport facilities were built for the purpose of those competitions, which had been organized in the spirit of the Olympics, 16 years earlier than Pierre de Coubertin renewed the modern time Olympic Games. Pali is proud of its Zoo, recognized not only by its rich collection of plants and animals but also by the human approach to accommodating animals and educative. Since its concept, beauty, arrangement, the treatment of animals, rank the Zoo among the leaders in this part of Europe. In its neighborhood, hidden among high pine trees is the Summer Stage, known as the venue of the European Film Festival in Pali. It was made of uncut stone in line with the design of Baltazar Duli. He is architect from Subotica. Sins 1950 it has been the venue of many concerts, festivals and performances. Today, there are three high category hotels in Pali, and many other accommodation options in luxurious and comfortable private villas. The wealth of tourist offers in Pali includes excellent restaurants and cafs, sport fields, lidos, thermal pool, cycling lane, promenades, dynamic cultural program and entertainment, as well as other events - makes Pali a unique tourist resort.