Baseball Club 7 Crowns

KRALJEVO
The town where the kings were crowned

Facts of Kraljevo

Formerly known as Rudo Polje, Karanovac and Rankovićevo, Kraljevo received its present name, signifying "the King's Town", from King Milan (1868-1889), who also made it a bishopric, instead of Čačak, 35 km northwest. Kraljevo (Serbian Cyrillic: Краљево) is a city and municipality located in Serbia at 43.74° N 20.67° E, built beside the river Ibar, 7 km west of its confluence with the Zapadna Morava; and in the midst of an upland valley, between the Kotlenik Mountains, in the north, and the Stolovi Mountains, in the south.In 2002 the city (including its suburb area) had population of 82,846 (municipality: 121,707). It is the administrative center of the Raška District of Serbia. The Kraljevo city proper consists of 16 settlements. In 1991.,Kraljevo city proper had 80,559 inhabitants. Because of the enormous number of refugees from Kosovo (around 18,500) and Bosna and Hercegovina, today the population in Kraljevo city proper is estimated on around 100,000 inhabitants. Demographics (2002 census) - Ethnic groups in the Kraljevo municipality: Serbs = 117,793; Montenegrins = 1,020; Roma = 876; Macedonians = 251; Yugoslavs = 213; Croats = 209; others... Serbian municipalities are often larger than cities or towns (which are municipal seats), as they comprise the town/city and surrounding villages and/or towns. This is due to change and many large municipalities, including the one of Kraljevo, will be divided.

History and sights

By far its most interesting feature is the Coronation church belonging to Žiča monastery. Here seven kings are said to have been crowned (seven crowns on coat of arms represents seven gings). The church is Byzantine in style, and has been partially restored; but the main tower dates from the year 1210, when it was founded by Saint Sava, the patron saint of Serbia.
The famous monastery of Studenica, 39 km south by west of Kraljevo, stands high up among the south-western mountains, overlooking the Studenica, a tributary of the Ibar. It consists of a group of old-fashioned timber and plaster buildings, a tall belfry, and a diminutive church of white marble, founded in 1190 by King Stephen Nemanya, who himself turned monk and was canonized as Saint Simeon. The carvings round the north, south and west doors have been partially defaced by the Turks. The inner walls are decorated with Byzantine frescoes, among which only a painting of the Last Supper, and the portraits of five saints, remain unrestored. The dome and narthex are modern additions. Besides the silver shrine of Saint Simeon, many gold and silver ornaments, church vessels and old manuscripts, there are a set of vestments and a reliquary, believed by the monks to have been the property of Saint Sava who founded first hospital in Studenica in 13th century.

Famous people

Vlade DIVAC

NBA player Vlade Divac started his career in Kraljevo, while playing for "Sloga" Kraljevo basketball club (his wife is from Kraljevo). He began playing basketball in his home town Prijepolje for the team KK Elan. But, he began his professional career in Yugoslavia playing for Baketball Club “Sloga “ Kraljevo. NBA: Named to the 1989-90 NBA All-Rookie First Team after averaging 8.5 ppg and 6.2 rpg for the Lakers; Appeared in the 1991 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls and has averaged 12.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 2.4 apg in 63 career NBA Playoff games; Ranks 4th in Lakers franchise history with 830 blocked shots; Ranked 2nd on the Kings in scoring (14.3 ppg), rebounds (10.0 rpg, 10th in the NBA), assists (4.3 apg) and blocked shots (1.02 bpg) in 1998-99; Ranked 12th in the NBA in field-goal percentage (.503) in 1999-2000; Earned first selection to NBA All-Star Game in 2001.
During his time with the Lakers, Divac's popularity and marketing potential, in addition to his entertaining and good-natured personality, were picked up on by the American TV industry. As a result he appeared quite a few times on Los Angeles-based late night programmes such as The Arsenio Hall Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also appeared in American sitcoms Married... with Children and Coach, as well as in the short lived Good Sports sitcom starring Farrah Fawcett. On the big screen Divac took part in basketball based movies Eddie, Space Jam and Juwanna Mann.
Divac now donates to the Kraljevo basketball and soccer club “Sloga”.

Nenad KRSTIĆ

Another NBA player, Nenad Krstić was born in Kraljevo, and played for "Mašinac" basketball club from Kraljevo. Krstic is a Serbian professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Currently he is the starting center for the New Jersey Nets. His first professional team was Partizan Belgrade in the Serbia-Montenegro league, the Adriatic League and Euroleague. Krstić is officially listed as seven feet (2.13 m) tall and weighing 240 lb .
He was drafted 24th overall in the 2002 NBA Draft by the New Jersey Nets. He went on to play the next two seasons with Partizan Belgrade. During the 2004-05 NBA season, Krstić logged an impressive rookie campaign for the New Jersey Nets, averaging 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.84 blocked shots per game. He was honored as part of the All-Rookie NBA second team.
Krstić, whose nicknames include Curly and Ballistic Krstić , was voted 3rd most eligible bachelor by Serbia's version of People magazine.