Statue of Đura Jakšić, Novi Sad, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The statue of Đura Jakšić stands on Pionirska street in Novi Sad, Serbia, and honours one of the country's best-loved Romantic artists. Jakšić (1832-1878) was a poet, painter, writer and teacher, and he is remembered as much for his bohemian life as for his work. It is a short, easy stop in the centre of the city.

The story behind it

Georgije Jakšić, known to everyone as Đura, lived only 46 years, yet he left a mark on Serbian literature and painting. He is seen as a typical figure of Romanticism, a man who lived the melancholy and passion of the movement rather than just writing about it. His best known works include the painting The Girl in Blue and the poem Mila.

Jakšić had a reputation as a great bohemian who spent long days and nights in inns and taverns, and as a man with a sharp tongue. One story tells of a loud young man who declared in an inn that poets and fools are the same thing, and demanded to know what separates them. Đura is said to have answered coldly: this table. Whether or not it happened exactly that way, it captures the wit he is remembered for.

What to look for

• The figure of the poet himself, and how the sculptor chose to present an artist who was both a writer and a painter.
• The base of the monument, where you can look for his name and any dates recorded on it.
• The setting on Pionirska street, which shows how the city keeps its cultural heroes close to everyday life.
• The surrounding streets, which are good for a slow look at the architecture of central Novi Sad.

Tips for your visit

• Plan about 10 to 15 minutes here. It is an outdoor monument, so there is nothing to go inside.
• Daylight is best for photographs and for reading any inscription on the base.
• It sits in the city centre, so it combines easily with a longer walk through the central streets.
• Read a little about his poems or look up The Girl in Blue before you arrive, and the statue will mean more.

See it on a quest

You can reach the statue on foot as one stop on Highlights of Novi Sad: Find the Cure., a self-guided walk through the city's main sights. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you, so you look at the monument properly instead of just walking past. You start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.