Mostar   

• Mostar is one of the most striking cities in the Balkans, renowned for its dramatic stone bridge and its history as a multicultural crossroads. Located in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, the city takes its name from “mostari,” the bridge keepers who once guarded crossings over the emerald-green Neretva River. Mostar’s best-known landmark is the Stari Most, or Old Bridge, built by the Ottomans in the 16th century. It was considered an engineering marvel and possibly the widest arch bridge of its time. The graceful structure stood for more than 400 years before being destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993. Its reconstruction in 2004 became a powerful symbol of postwar reconciliation, and the bridge and surrounding Old Town were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2005. One of the city’s most famous traditions is bridge diving. Each summer, local divers plunge from the 24-meter-high bridge into the cold river below, continuing a custom that dates back centuries. Mostar’s Old Town is a maze of cobblestone streets, Ottoman-era houses, mosques, and bazaars. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the Koski Mehmed Pasha Mosque or browse copper shops and cafes in the historic Kujundziluk market. Yesel Kang Copy Editor junior/1770274387/1613368124