Karađorđeva Street and Small Staircase of Jelisaveta Načić

Why is it significant?

You are walking along Karađorđeva Street, the historic commercial spinal artery of the riverside Savamala district.

Key Facts

Open the walk

You are walking along Karađorđeva Street, the historic commercial spinal artery of the riverside Savamala district. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this avenue bustled with the energy of wealthy merchant guilds: wholesale traders in grain, timber, and livestock erected lavish company headquarters, banks, and private townhouses showcasing grand Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau facades.

Look ahead to the Small Staircase — Male Stepenice, an exquisite public stairway constructed in 1903. This Neo-Baroque gem was designed by Jelisaveta Načić, Serbia's trailblazing first licensed female architect. Featuring gracefully curving balustrades carved from pale stone, decorative niches, and sculpted urns, the staircase provides an elegant pedestrian ascent connecting Karađorđeva Street back up to Pariska Street.

Jelisaveta Načić graduated at the top of her university class in 1900 and boldly defied the patriarchal norms of her era to become the chief architect of the Belgrade Municipality at just twenty-two years old. Her other masterworks include the Church of Alexander Nevsky on Dorćol and the King Peter the First Primary School, cementing her legacy as a visionary pioneer of Serbian modern architecture.

The contrast between the rugged stone cliff of Kosančićev Venac and the delicate, curved lines of Načić's staircase creates a captivating spatial dialogue. Although Karađorđeva Street bore the heavy scars of twentieth-century warfare, careful facade restorations are reviving its grand turn-of-the-century splendor, attracting architects, artists, and urban explorers from across the globe. The elegant Neo-Baroque lines of the Small Staircase celebrate the artistic vision of Jelisaveta Načić, enriching the streetscape with timeless feminine grace and distinction. This historic landmark stands as an enduring testament to the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Serbian capital. This historic landmark stands as an enduring testament to the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Serbian capital.

Continue south along Karađorđeva Street and turn left onto Kraljevića Marka to the Magacin Cultural Hub.