The Spirta House, now the Museum of Zemun, is a сultural monument in Belgrade, Serbia, and is located in Zemun, at 9 Glavna Street.
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History
The Charter of the Emperor Franz Joseph I about the awarding the noble title to Pavle Georgije Spirta, in 1856, The Historical archive of Belgrade Spirta`s house is situated in Zemun at 9 Glavna Street. It was built in the middle of the 19th century, after the design of Heinrich Freiherr von Ferstel (1828-1883). It was designed in the Gothic Revival Architecture. It is one of the first high-floored family houses of the Old Centre of Zemun. It belonged to the influential and rich Zemun family Spirta.
The Architecture
By its architectural characteristics it stands out from the houses in Zemun, thus testifying about the social position and the taste of the former owners. The main part of the house equals in height with other two-storey neighbouring houses. It has three tracts, with the side part in the courtyard and an asymmetrically placed carriage entrance. The interior is well furnished, which was characteristic for the rich urban houses. Decorative wallpapers, stylistic ceilings, ceramic stoves, fireplaces and luxurious stylish inlaid parquet stood out. The main facade is composed in the odd number scheme, characteristic for the period of Romanticism. The eclectic style of that epoch and the owners` taste are expressed through the decorative shallow plastic of the facades, the processing of the wood joinery,processing and ornaments of the floors, walls and ceilings of the house. The building was built with solid materials. By its construction line the house documents the old regulation formed in the 18th century. It is the part of the main street in Zemun, its profile and its route.
Cultural Monument
For a certain period of time, the Hotel Garni was located in the house. Since 1971, the house keeps the permanent collection of the county Museum of Zemun and shows the past of the town of Zemun from the day of its founding till 1945. The Museum has been closed for visitors since 2002 up to now. The object was designated as the cultural monument (The Decision made by the Institute no. 182/4 from 12 March 1965). The object is located within the spatial cultural and historical complex of the Old Core of Zemun, which was designated as the cultural heritage property of great importance for the Republic of Serbia (The Decision, „Official Gazette SRS“ no. 14/79).