Vrapčići, Mostar

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Vrapčići is a suburban neighborhood of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the City of Mostar and lies in the Northern metropolitan area.

Population: 3,266 people (2013 census).

Where it is and how it looks: The M-17 road runs through Vrapčići, connecting it with other northern suburbs and Zalik. The Neretva River forms the western border with Raštani, and Vrapčići borders Kuti, Livač, and the village of Dobrč to the east. The land is flat and fertile thanks to the river, and near it lies Mostarsko jezero, the “Mostar sea,” created by a hydroelectric dam in the 1980s.

Landmarks: Vrapčići is home to the Rođeni stadium of FK Velež Mostar, the White Mosque, and Sutina cemetery. Ottoman-era Džabić and Alajbegović houses (national monuments) date from the early 1800s, but their restoration had not begun by 2022.

History in brief: During the Bosnian War (1992–1995), control of the area changed between different forces. There was a tragic massacre at Uborak, and many Bosniak refugees moved to Vrapčići, which led to a Bosniak majority today. After the war, the area was part of Herzeg-Bosnia for a time before reunification with the rest of Mostar’s administration.

Economy: The old Đuro Salaj textile mill once provided many jobs. Now the Gajevi business zone along the M-17 hosts factories, shops, and agricultural businesses. The Uborak waste deposit site has its headquarters here, but its future is uncertain due to environmental concerns.

Transport: The M-17 road connects Vrapčići with Sarajevo and Mostar. The Sarajevo–Ploče railway runs along the Neretva’s west bank; the nearest train station is in Raštani, about five kilometers away, with Mostar’s central station a short ride away. Local buses (lines 16, 20, 21, 22, and 23) link Vrapčići with downtown and other parts of the city.

Facilities: There is one elementary school, a post office, and an outpatient clinic. Two cemeteries are in the area: Sutina and the Orthodox Kraljevine cemetery.

Area and codes: The neighborhood covers about 13.16 square kilometers (5.08 square miles). Population density is around 248 people per square kilometer. Postal code is 88000 and the area code is +387 36 345. Time zone is CET (UTC+1) and CEST (UTC+2) in summer.