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Ćuprija

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Ćuprija (Serbian Cyrillic: Ћуприја) is a town and municipality in Serbia, situated at 43.93° North, 21.38° East. In 2002 its population was 20,411.

The Romans founded the town as a military outpost on the road from Constantinople to Rome at a crossing of the river now known as Velika Morava. The fort was first known as Horeum Margi (Horeum=Granary, Margi=Morava). When Serbs first moved into the area, it became known as Ravno ("flat"), since it is in a flat river valley. Local geographical terms (villages Paljane and Isakovo and river Mirosava) are still keeping memory of the big clash between Serbs under Stefan Nemanja and Byzantines under Emperor Isaac II Angelo which occurred in the Fall of 1191. The settlement became known as Ćuprija (Turkish word for "bridge") when it came under the control of the Ottoman Empire.

Ćuprija is located on international highway and railroad 150 km south of Belgrade and 90 km north of Niš. College of Nursing and agriculture are main sources of income. Ravanica Monastery, built in 1381 by Lazar of Serbia, is placed 8 km on the east.

The downtown was heavily damaged by NATO bombs during 1999 campaign. Some of the buildings are still in ruins.