We have it, let's keep it! - Avala Tower opened ceremoniously

A symbol of Belgrade and the lighthouse of Serbia - the Avala tower, was ceremoniously opened on April 21, 2010. After 11 years, at the same place where the old one was standing, which was torn down by the NATO bombs in 1999, the new giant, one meter higher than the previous one, is erected thanks to all citizens of our country.

The newly built Avala tower was ceremoniously opened in the presence of the highest government officials, including Serbian President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, Belgrade's Mayor Dragan Đilas, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, ministers, people's representatives and numerous public figures and donors.

Construction of the tower started in 2005 at the initiative of the Broadcasting Corporation of Serbia and the Association of Journalists of Serbia, supported by large number of citizens.

During the construction, which was entrusted to Ratko Mitrović Dedinje, none of the workers was hurt. Construction manager Rajo Radovanović said that the works on the tower reconstruction were both great honor and big responsibility for Serbian building companies that had proved they could match the world's greatest of the kind.

(government, city and military officials)

The new facility is 204.5 meters high. It is the highest tower in the Balkans and it was the world's second highest building under construction last year, right behind the hotel in Dubai.

- The tower is a clear proof of what we can do, what kind of people and how big we are when we gather around a healthy idea and for the sake of our Serbia - said Aleksandar Tijanić, CEO of the Broadcasting Corporation of Serbia (RTS).

- Serbia got its cap today. The time has come for us to finish our roof and other Serbian works together - Tijanić added.

Oliver Dulić, the Minister of Environment Protection and Spatial Planning and the President of the Board for Construction of the Avala Tower, pointed out that the construction of the tower was a great feat and expressed gratitude to all those who had taken part in the project. The support was provided by over 1m citizens of Serbia and more than 500 public figures.

– The tower on Avala is opened after it got the use permit and that is the way in which are going to do business in the future as well. I want to underline that none of the workers was hurt during the construction, which means that we stick to all security standards. The tower is one of rare projects in Serbia that is not in compliance with Serbian tradition that big projects are never fully implemented. In addition, this project is implemented in a quality way, without any significant problem or scandal – said Minister Dulić.

(Oliver Dulić, Slavica Đukić Dejanović, Boris Tadić, Mirko Cvetković and Dragan Đilas)

Belgrade's Mayor Dragan Đilas had the honor to open the tower.

– Today, when we are finishing the new tower, I can not but think that it would have been much better if it had not been torn down in the first place and that, instead, we had been building hospitals, schools or kindergartens all this time. From the new tower, Belgrade will be able to see the rest of Serbia and all their problems better, while all other parts of Serbia will be able to recognize their capital city easier. Belgrade and Serbia must reach Europe together. It is as impossible that Belgrade, as a locomotive, arrives there alone as it is impossible that the rest of Serbia, as a deserted car, becomes a member of the European Union. I hope that none mayor of Belgrade will ever again be in the situation to open a reconstructed tower or any other facility that was previously torn down by bombs – said Dragan Đilas.

(Serbian Guard)

The new tower is a faithful copy of the old one, but it is built with the use of modern technology and in accordance with the highest building standards. It was designed by the experts from the Transport Institute CIP, while the works were carried out by Ratko Mitrović. The installed electrical equipment represents the cutting-edge system in its class, one of seven of the kind in Europe. There is a restaurant at the height of 120 meters, while a balcony with a panorama view is at height of 124 meters above the surface. Two very fast elevators take people to the top in less than minute.

Donors

The path that leads to the tower will be decorated with 200 palm prints of the most credited donors and participants in the Let's Build The Avala Tower campaign.

The first palm print was left by painter Olja Ivanjicki, and there are also palm prints of academics Matija Bećković, Milorad Pavić, Dušan Kovačević, Tome Serafimovski and Vladimir Veličković, as well as tennis players Ana Ivanović and Novak Đoković.

Tower Management

The management of the Avala tower is entrusted to public company Emisiona Tehnika i Veze (Emission Technology and Links), while the renters of the panorama restaurant at about 100 square meters and the complex of outlets at about 500 square meters at the foot of the tower are still unknown.

The working hours of the Avala tower are Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 4.30 PM and from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekends. The tower is closed on Monday.

Maximum number of persons allowed on the belvedere is 16, while every person can stay there for up to 15 minutes. The price of single tickets is 50 RSD, while group ticket costs 30 RSD per person (minimum ten persons). Entrance is free of charge for kids under 12, retired people and people with disabilities.

People from the Tourism Organization of Belgrade point out that the tower will be closed if the wind velocity is 13 m/s or higher.

Buses that drive to Avala and the Avala tower are 401, 406, 407 and 408 from Banjica, as well as bus 400L from the foot of Avala to the Avala tower and back, from 9 AM to 6 PM.