Kovačica

For other uses, see Kovačica (disambiguation).

Kovačica (Serbian Cyrillic: Ковачица, pronounced [koʋǎtʃitsa]; Slovak: Kovačica; Hungarian: Antalfalva; Romanian: Covăcița) is a town and municipality located in the South Banat District of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the town has a population of 5,398, while the municipality has 21,178 inhabitants.^[3] It is widely known for its naïve art that the local residents make without any form of art school.

Kovačica Ковачица (Serbian) Kovačica (Slovak)[1] Covăcița (Romanian)[1] Antalfalva (Hungarian)[1]
Town and municipality
Kovačica
Coat of arms
Location of Kovačica within Serbia
Coordinates: 45°6′42″N 20°37′17″E
Country	Serbia
Province	Vojvodina
District	South Banat
Settlements	8
Government
• Mayor	Petar Višnjički (SNS)
Area
• Municipal	419 km2 (162 sq mi)
Elevation	78 m (256 ft)
Population  (2022)[2]
• Municipal	21,178
• Density	51/km2 (130/sq mi)
• Urban	5,398
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	26210
Area code	+381(0)13
Official languages	Serbian together with Slovak, Romanian and Hungarian[1]
Website	www.kovacica.org

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 Banatian 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.^[4]

Settlements

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

• Crepaja
• Debeljača (Hungarian: Torontálvásárhely)
• Idvor
• Padina
• Putnikovo
• Samoš
• Uzdin

Idvor

Uzdin

Putnikovo

Samoš

Kovačica

Padina

Debeljača

Crepaja

Municipality
of Kovačica

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	31,682	—
1953	32,808	+0.70%
1961	34,654	+0.69%
1971	33,489	−0.34%
1981	32,798	−0.21%
1991	30,469	−0.73%
2002	27,890	−0.80%
2011	25,274	−1.09%
2022	21,178	−1.59%
Source: [5][3]

According to the 2022 census results, the municipality of Kovačica has 21,178 inhabitants.^[3]

Ethnic groups

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

Map of Kovačica municipality

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:^[3]

Ethnic group	Population	%
Slovaks	8,676	41%
Serbs	7,249	34.2%
Hungarians	1,597	7.5%
Romanians	1,208	5.7%
Roma	755	3.5%
Yugoslavs	76	0.3%
Macedonians	53	0.2%
Albanians	28	0.1%
Croats	27	0.1%
Others	1,509	7%
Total	21,178

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of employed people per their core activity (as of 2017):^[6]

Activity	Total
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	255
Mining	-
Processing industry	845
Distribution of power, gas and water	4
Distribution of water and water waste management	79
Construction	173
Wholesale and retail, repair	607
Traffic, storage and communication	127
Hotels and restaurants	81
Media and telecommunications	36
Finance and insurance	36
Property stock and charter	-
Professional, scientific, innovative and technical activities	89
Administrative and other services	132
Administration and social assurance	209
Education	372
Healthcare and social work	228
Art, leisure and recreation	57
Other services	54
Total	3,387

Naïve art

The Gallery of Naive Art in Kovačica

Kovačica is well known for the tradition of naïve art, originating from local Slovak painters.^[7] 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.^[8][9]

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.^[10] In December 2024, Kovačica's naïve art was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible cultural heritage.^[11]

International relations

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

Twin towns — Sister cities

Kovačica is twinned with:

• Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

See also

• Municipalities of Serbia
• South Banat District