Tasmajdan - hidden soul of Belgrade

BELGRADE - The cave underneath the Tasmajdan Park in downtown Belgrade conceals the rich history of the capital - it was the headquarters of the German military command in World War II, Belgraders sought shelter there during the shelling in World War I, and it also saved the life of Karadjordje, whose hiding place it was.

A much more distant past has also left its mark on the cave - its walls were battered by the waves of the Pannonian Sea 14 million years ago, and seashells can still be found in it, Zoran Nikolic, the co-author of the book A Belgrade Underneath Belgrade, said on Thursday after a tour of the cave with Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali.

A Roman aqueduct also ran through the cave, which some believe is where the Turks burned the remains of Saint Sava. The Tasmajdan area was once the site of an old cemetery.

Due to poor lighting and accessibility issues, the cave has been closed to visitors since 2011, but works could start soon, once the project is complete, the Belgrade mayor said.

The cave could become open to visitors in September or October 2015, Mali said.

"This part of the city is the soul of Belgrade. Our duty and obligation towards the city and Belgraders is to give places like these back to them," the mayor said.

Photo Tanjug Video, camera operator Ivan Pavlovic