Tašmajdan Park and Saint Mark

Tašmajdan Park is a quiet green space in the centre of Belgrade, Serbia, in the Stari Grad area, around one of the largest Orthodox churches in the city, the Church of Saint Mark. The park occupies the site of old stone quarries, whose name comes from the Turkish word for a stone pit, and it offers shaded paths, benches and open lawns a short walk from the busy streets around Takovska and Bulevar kralja Aleksandra. The Church of Saint Mark, built in the Serbo-Byzantine style in the 1930s, is the main landmark, with a pale facade and domes that rise above the trees. Visitors typically spend 45 minutes to an hour, walking the paths, looking at the church exterior, and stepping inside when the church is open. Entry to the park is free and it is open at all times. The church is a working place of worship, so modest dress is expected inside and visits during services should be quiet. The park is a favourite with local residents for jogging, dog walking and reading, and it is calm on weekday mornings and busier on warm weekend afternoons. For photographs, the best view of the church is from the lawn in front, particularly in soft morning or late-afternoon light. The park lies close to the centre and can be reached on foot from Republic Square in around 20 minutes or by tram and bus along the nearby avenues. It makes a restful stop between the museums of the old town and the Temple of Saint Sava, and several cafes around the edges offer a place to sit down. Visitors should not expect large attractions; the pleasure lies in the calm and the architecture.