For other uses, see Kovačica (disambiguation).
Kovačica
Town and municipality
Native name
[1]
[1]
[1]
ProvinceVojvodina
DistrictSouth Banat
Parts stylepara
P 18
MayorPetar Višnjički (SNS)
Area total419 km²
Population as of2022
Population total21178
Urban5398
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
Time zone (DST)CEST (UTC+2)
Coordinates45°6′42″N 20°37′17″E
Elevation78 m
Postal code26210
Area code+381(0)13
Websitewww.kovacica.org
Car platesPA
Official languagesSerbian together with Slovak, Romanian and Hungarian[1]

Kovačica (Sr-cyrl: Ковачица, koʋǎtʃitsa; Slovak: Kovačica; Hungarian: Antalfalva; Romanian: Covăcița) is a town and municipality located in the South Banat District, Vojvodina, Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the town has a population of 5,398, while the municipality has 21,178 inhabitants.[2] It is widely known for its naïve art that the local residents make without any form of art school.

Geography

The town of Kovačica is located 27km from Pančevo and 43km from Belgrade.

History

The town was founded in the 18th century, but there are records of small settlements dating from 1458. In the middle of the 18th century, this area was recorded as a wasteland. Settlement was founded in 1750 and was settled (in 1751–1752) by Serb soldiers from Potisje and Pomorišje, after military frontier in these regions was abolished. In 1767, Kovačica was included into German regiment of Banat Military Frontier.

First Slovaks came here from Ečka and Aradac (in 1783) and after them, Slovaks from Arvas, Trenčin and Bekeš county came here as well (in 1801). From the middle of the 19th century, Kovačica is a center of municipality and cultural and social center of Slovaks in Banat.[3][4]

The Slovak Evangelical Church in Kovačica was built between 1824-1828. The altar was painted in 1838-1839 by Konstantin Danil.[5][6]

Settlements

Kovačica municipality includes the town of Kovačica and the following villages:

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
194831,682—
195332,808+3.6%
196134,654+5.6%
197133,489−3.4%
198132,798−2.1%
199130,469−7.1%
200227,890−8.5%
201125,274−9.4%
202221,178−16.2%

[7][2]

According to the 2022 census results, the municipality of Kovačica has 21,178 inhabitants.[2]

Ethnic groups

See also: Slovaks in Serbia, Hungarians in Serbia, Romani people in Serbia and Romanians in Serbia

Communities with Slovak majorities are: Kovačica (Slovak: Kovačica) and Padina (Slovak: Padina). Communities with Serb majorities are: Crepaja, Idvor, Putnikovo and Samoš. There is one community with a Hungarian majority: Debeljača (Hungarian: Torontálvásárhely), and one community with a Romanian majority: Uzdin (Romanian: Uzdin).

The ethnic composition of the municipality:[2]

Ethnic groupPopulationShare
Slovaks8,67641%
Serbs7,24934.2%
Hungarians1,5977.5%
Romanians1,2085.7%
Roma7553.5%
Others/Undeclared/Unknown1,6937.7%

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of employed people per their core activity (as of 2017):[8]

ActivityTotal
Agriculture, forestry and fishing255
Mining-
Processing industry845
Distribution of power, gas and water4
Distribution of water and water waste management79
Construction173
Wholesale and retail, repair607
Traffic, storage and communication127
Hotels and restaurants81
Media and telecommunications36
Finance and insurance36
Property stock and charter-
Professional, scientific, innovative and technical activities89
Administrative and other services132
Administration and social assurance209
Education372
Healthcare and social work228
Art, leisure and recreation57
Other services54
Total3,387

Naïve art

Kovačica is well known for the tradition of naïve art, originating from local Slovak painters.[9] The Gallery of Naïve Art, founded in 1955, is a major tourist destination in the area. Its most notable representatives are Zuzana Chalupová, also known as Mama Zuzana, Martin Jonáš, Jan Knjazovic, Martin Paluška, Jan Sokol and Jan Venjarski. The gallery organizes various exhibitions and events, such as Kovačički oktobar (Kovačica October), and has a collection of over 800 paintings.[10][11]

Kovačica's naïve painting is characterized by nostalgic, idyllic themes featuring life on the streets and in village yards, work in the fields of the golden Banat plain, and the ambience of country rooms with old carpets and objects.[12] In December 2024, Kovačica's naïve art was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible cultural heritage.[13]

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Serbia

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kovačica is twinned with:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Статут општине Ковачица" [Municipality of Kovačica Statute] (PDF) (in Serbian). Municipality of Kovačica. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  2. ^ "2022 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings". Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. ^ Source: Stevan Kovačević, Gradovi Srbije u slici i reči, Beograd, 2010.
  4. ^ "Kratka istorija i naseljavanje ovog prostora". www.took.org.rs. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  5. ^ "KOVAČICA". www.took.org.rs. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  6. ^ Vojvodine, Turistička organizacija. "SLOVAK EVANGELICAL CHURCH - Kovačica". Vojvodina Travel. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  7. ^ "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia". stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  8. ^ "ОПШТИНЕ И РЕГИОНИ У РЕПУБЛИЦИ СРБИЈИ, 2018." (in Serbian). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Galerija naivne umetnosti u Kovačici" (in sr-RS). Zavod za kulturu vojvođanskih Slovaka. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  10. ^ "About Us". Gallery of naive art. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  11. ^ "Galerija naivne umetnosti u Kovačici". www.took.org.rs. Retrieved 2024-10-16.
  12. ^ "o naivnoj umetnosti". www.took.org.rs. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  13. ^ "Ethnic Slovak naïve paintings from Serbia join UNESCO’s list of cultural heritage". Associated Press. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.