CITY SUPPORTS THE CONTINUATION OF RECONSTRUCTION OF THE OLD CEMETERY
1.04.2011
City Council of the City of Nis, at the session held March, 29th 2011th, made a conclusion and then Mayor of City of Nis made a resolution of acceptance of participation of City of Nis in financing of the project “Reconstruction of the western gate and part of fences of the complex of Old Cemetery”. Holder of the project is City Municipality of Palilula and partner on the project is City of Nis. Value of the project is 13.073.138,68 RSD, and City of Nis finance project in full amount.

In the reasoning of the resolution is given: Goal of the project is protection and preservation of cultural property of the complex of the Old Cemetery by reconstruction and restoration of West gate. Complex Old Cemetery is located in Nis on the territory of City Municipality of Palilula, close to the inner urban core. Due saturation of space  the burial was stopped mid- seventies in last century. Since then functions as a park area and pedestrian communication. On the cemetery is and monuments of exceptional historical figures and art value, and some are protected as property of cultural and historical significance.

Cemetery lies on 17 hectares. Of his age suggests a number of tombstones of limestone and sandstone, especially in the western part. The oldest of which could be read year is  from the 1819th  year. Over time they began to be used and more expensive materials, among which was particularly appreciated the so-called Swedish black marble. Some graves in the Old Cemetery were made as a true masterpiece of high artistic value. Between the two world wars, the wealthy citizens built the chapel as a family tomb. Here are buried many of the rebels in the struggle for liberation from the Turks, historical figures in Serbia and Yugoslavia, military leaders, politicians, teachers and professors, artists and writers, doctors, industrialists, and many others. Of famous people buried in the Old Cemetery are: Nikola Kole Rasic, rebel leader of the liberation from the Turks and later deputy, Anastasije Petrovic-Teacher Tasa, a teacher and educator in the end of Ottoman rule, Peter Ikonomović, priest, and fighter for national liberation from the Turks , Dimitrije Cvetanovic - Master Mile, educator and national contender. Here is buried and Todor Stankovic, a prominent rebel against the Turks and later the Serbian Consul, Todor Milovanovic, a national worker in the fight against the Turks and later the president of the Nis municipal, Tasko Uzunovic, rebel against the Turks. In the Old Cemetery is buried Milos Nedic, a prominent commander during the Balkan wars, serdar Jolene Piletić, Montenegro's army commander. There are also graves of poets Proka Jovkića - Nestor Zucni, actors Sime Bunic and Kosta Dobrica. All those to the Old Cemetery gives a great historical value. In the old cemetery there are monuments, statues, medallions, which are of priceless artistic value (about 200), and in the 1991st  was placed under state protection. The Old Cemetery, although under state protection, in the past is totally neglected and is in very poor condition. As a result of neglect and deviant behavior of the part of our young citizens, the parts were completely destroyed and plotted various graffiti. The space itself, in part, turned into the dump. City Municipality of  Palilula trying to take care of all segments of its territory, and has committed itself that the Old Cemetery offices and brought to the stage that it deserves as a cultural asset. Also, it is envisaged to activate its potential.

The complex is surrounded by apartment buildings for individual and collective housing. Mid-seventies in last century, on the south side were built heating plants. As a result of unplanned development, peripheral part of the complex was ''attacked'' by the buildings, of which some come directly with their fences in the territory of the cemetery. Because of the exceptional craftsmanship and artistic value is anticipated restoration northwest gate and associated fencing originated from the City Hall. The appearance of wrought iron is returned to its original state in all the enclosed project. Concrete columns and parquetry plinths will be processed on the model of surviving pillar of the presidency of the City Hall. Because of damage to individual elements of fences and gates, the poor condition and lack of protective coatings finish on plinths and columns, the project envisages the following: Because of damage to parts of the fence shall be clean, repair damage and paint the metal parts coated enclosure; Because of damage to parts of doors gates shall be clean, repair damage and paint the metal parts coating. Cleaning, plastering and painting of existing plinths; Replacement of the existing pillars of the gate (for the precise extraction profile is needed to develop appropriate wooden templates coated sheet); Installation of lanterns on the pillars of the gate.