| It has been built from 1858 until 1863 as a private palace of Miša Anastasijević, "the Danube captain" and the wealthiest man in Serbia of his times. The architect was Jan Nevole, Czech by origin, who has also designed some buildings in Serbia and Belgrade. This palace has been gifted to the Serbian people (the writing on the main facade - "Miša Anastasijević to his fatherland") for educational and cultural purposes. In its time it was the greatest and most beautiful palace in Serbia.
Influences of various styles, cultures and epochs are mixed in its architecture, but the most notable are the elements of renaissance and romantism. According to the will of the endower, the building hosted almost every important educational and cultural institutions of the Principality of Serbia - Ministry of Education, Great School (predecessor of the University), First Belgrade Gymnasium, National Museum, Art Gallery and Library. Occasionally, its gala hall has been used for the meetings of the National Assembly (1864-1875) and Senate (1901-1903). Today, there is the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade and parts of the Faculty of Philosophy. |