Miss Irby Street. Now in the very heart of Sarajevo, shops,
cafes and boutiques everywhere. We all know where it is, but very few, I would
add, know who Miss Irby was. My son asked me that the other day. Surely the
name does not sound Bosnian? So who was she?
Miss Irby
(Adeline) Paulina Irby was born in 1831, Morningthorpe, England. While traveling throughout
Europe she reached the Balkans region, Bosnia and Herzegovina among them, that
was still under Ottoman ruling. She came to Sarajevo in 1866 and almost
immediately started establishing school
for girls, much to dismay of local authorities. At the beginning, daughters of
prominent families went to school, but later the school focused on poorer
communities and grew into Teachers Secondary School. She was a good friend with
Florence Nightingale. She died in 1911.
The Academy of Fine Arts
The construction started in 1898 and finalized in November
1899 as Evangelistic Church. Karl Parzik was the architect who designed it.
After the Austro-Hungarian Empire broke down the Church started to lose its
function. In 1970 Vlado Negel one of the last Evangelists signed the property
of the Church to city authorities, who renovated it and in 1981 made it into
Academy of Arts.
The National Theatre Sarajevo
The
National Theatre Sarajevo is the oldest professional theatre in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. It was established in 1921.
Initially, the National Theatre Sarajevo worked exclusively as a drama theatre. Since 1946 the National Theatre has had the segments of music, and thus Opera and Ballet were established and greatly contributed to the rich history of the Institution. During the 85-year long existence and work, the National Theatre Sarajevo has performed a large number of drama, ballet and opera performances throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.
Initially, the National Theatre Sarajevo worked exclusively as a drama theatre. Since 1946 the National Theatre has had the segments of music, and thus Opera and Ballet were established and greatly contributed to the rich history of the Institution. During the 85-year long existence and work, the National Theatre Sarajevo has performed a large number of drama, ballet and opera performances throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad.
And there it is. Three fascinating stories in a short walking distance from each other, in a small country and a small area. All we have to do is open our eyes and ears and never let go of our sense of wonder.
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