Spasić Passage

Belgrade's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele

Spasić Passage is a unique architectural ensemble linking Knez Mihailova Street with Obilićev venac. It was built in 1912 as an endowment of the great benefactor Nikola Spasić, with the idea of becoming a place of gathering, trade and culture, modelled on the famous passages of Paris and Milan.

The project was entrusted to the architect Nikola Nestorović, who conceived the building in the Secession style. What makes this building special is its interior gallery, lit by natural light through a monumental rectangular glass roof supported by a wrought-iron structure.

The cradle of Yugoslav film

Besides luxury shops, Spasić Passage also contained a large hall in which the cinema “Grand Paž” (Grand Passage) was opened. This cinema was one of the first permanent cinemas in Belgrade and played a key role in the history of domestic cinematography.