Bosnia & Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan peninsula of Southern Europe. It consists of three main 'peoples': Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs, with Croats making up approximately 15% of the population.
Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the south, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for 26 kilometres of the Adriatic Sea coastline, centered around the town of Neum.
The interior of the country is mountainous in the center and south - encompassing the central Dinaric Alps, hilly in the northwest, and flat in the northeast reaching into the Pannonian basin. It has a moderate continental climate, marked by hot summers and cold, snowy winters. Smaller Herzegovina is the southern tip of the country, with a Mediterranean climate and topography.
The capital city of Bosnia and Herzegovina is Sarajevo, other main cities include Mostar, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Zenica, Livno.
The cuisine from Bosnia is balanced between Western and Eastern influences and is closely related to Turkish, Greek, and other former Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisines. However, due to years of Austrian rule, there are many influences from Central Europe. Traditional foods are very hearty and many are meat based. The meat is extremely well prepared and often organically farmed. Typical meat dishes include primarily beef, lamb and pork. Some local specialties are pita, cevapi, burek, sarma, goulash, ajvar and a whole range of sweets. Traditional 'Turkish Coffee' is the backbone of social life.
The best local wines come from Herzegovina where the wine-making tradition dates back to Roman times, this region has an ideal climate for growing grapes.
Made from plums, pears, apples or grapes, the local spirits or 'Rakija' are amazing. They are generally very strong, with alcohol levels commonly exceeding 40 percent. They are drunk at all times of the day and at all times of the year. Sljivovica (plum) or kruska (pear) are found more in Bosnia. Loza, made of grapes, is the specialty of Herzegovina and Dalmatia with the best quality spirits being home-made.
