In 1566, Ottoman architect Mimar Hajrudin build a stone bridge that spanned the waters of the Neretva River, and became known as the Stari Most (Old Bridge). The initially small Turkish outpost grew into a city that was eventually named after the bridge—Mostar. For centuries the bridge was a symbol of historic tolerance for diversity among people of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and Mostar city until war racked the former Yugoslavia. In 1993, artillery destroyed this greatest cultural treasure of BiH, dividing people living on a different the banks of Neretva river.
In 1999, the Pilot Cultural Heritage Project was launched to restore the bridge and improve the climate for reconciliation among the peoples through recognition and rehabilitation of their common cultural heritage, and promote economic revitalization and social cohesion in a post-conflict situation. Because of the symbolism inherent in the reconstruction of the Stari Most, a special dimension of the stated objective was that it was to be pursued through a unique cultural support partnership that includes the local community, national and regional governments, UNESCO, the World Monuments Fund, and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, as well as several donor countries including Italy, the Netherlands, Croatia, Turkey, and the Council of Europe Development Bank, along with IDA. Although IDA financing ended three years ago, project activities continue, as local authorities continue working on the restoration and maintenance of the Old Town and further development of Mostar’s tourist capacities.
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