Description of the attraction
Sebil Square is no less often called Pigeon Square - because of the abundance of these birds, which are highly respected in Islam. The square is located in the center of the historical district of Bascarsija, which flourished during the Ottoman period. Today this old town is the main historical attraction of Sarajevo, and Sebil Square, without exaggeration, is its heart. And also the symbol of the city, which is depicted on most of the souvenir products, and against which tourists like to take pictures.
In the middle of the 18th century, a fountain was created on the once huge eastern square of Bascarsija - in a luxurious Moorish style. It was designed and built by Mehmed Pasha Kukavitsa, the governor in Sarajevo, who is also a great architect and sculptor. It was an original idea: a wooden octahedron topped with a blue dome. The material emphasized the originality and uniqueness of the fountain. He also caused the death of this beautiful work in the fire of 1852.
At the end of the 19th century, already during the period of Austro-Hungarian rule, the Sebil fountain was restored by another remarkable architect, Alexander Wittek. The Austrian architect treated the Ottoman heritage with great care, creating a fountain in the neo-Moorish style.
Today, this preserved corner of the old city is one of the most visited places by tourists. In the center of bustling Bascarsija, with its shops and coffee houses, it seems to be the personification of the history of Sarajevo. According to the city legend, having drunk the water from this fountain, you will definitely return to the city. In any case, the water is very clean and there are always a lot of people thirsty for water.
From the outside, the oriental bazaar looks like such an old postcard, which organically fits the Sebil fountain.
