Vranje was an important Ottoman trading site.

The White Bridge is a symbol of the

city and is called "most ljubavi" (lovers' bridge) after the tale of the forbidden
love between the Muslim girl Ajša and Christian Stojan that resulted in the father
killing the couple. After that, he built the bridge where he had killed her and had
the story inscribed in Ottoman Arabic. The 11th-century Markovo Kale fortress is in
the north of the city. The city has traditional Balkan and Ottoman architecture.

The well-known theater play Koštana by Bora Stanković is set in Vranje.

Vranje is famous for its popular, old music, lively and melancholic at the same
time. The best known music is from the theater piece with music, Koštana, by Bora
Stanković. This original music style has been renewed recently by taking different,
specific, and more oriental form, with the contribution of rich brass instruments.
It is played particularly by the Vranje Romani people.

Vranje is the seat of Pčinja District and, as such, is a major center for cultural
events in the district. Most notable annual events are Borina nedelja, Stari dani,
Dani karanfila (in Vranjska Banja), etc.

Vranje lies close to Besna Kobila mountain and Vranjska Banja, locations with high
potential that are underdeveloped. Other locations in and around Vranje with some
tourist potential include Prohor Pčinjski monastery, Kale-Krševica, Markovo kale,
Pržar, birth-house museum of Bora Stankovic.

Largest hotels are Hotel Vranje, near the center and Hotel Pržar overlooking the
city and the valley. The city has traditional Serbian cuisine as well as
international cuisine restaurants and many cafes and bars.

Culture institutions

The Museum of Vranje

National Museum (in former Pasha's residence, built in 1765)
Youth Cultural Centre
National Library
Centre for Talents
Theater "Bora Stanković"
Tourist organization of Vranje
Sport
The city has one top-flight association football team, Dinamo Vranje.

Economy

Pumpkins in the suburb village of Vlase.

Vranje is located in southern Serbia, on Corridor X near the border with North
Macedonia and Bulgaria. The distance from Thessalonica international harbor is 285
km (177 mi); distance from the international airports of Skopje and Niš are 90 km
(56 mi). Vranje has a long tradition of industrial production, trade, and tourism
and is rich in natural resources, such as forests and geothermal resources.[24]

Until the second half of the 20th century Vranje was a craftsman town. The crafts
included weaving, water-milling, and carriages craft. With the beginning of
industrialization in the 1960s, many of these crafts disappeared. In those years,
many factories were opened, such as the Tobacco Industry of Vranje (Serbian:
Дуванска индустрија Врање), Simpo, Koštana (shoe factory), Yumco (cotton plant),
Alfa Plam (technical goods), SZP Zavarivač Vranje and others.

The most common industries in the city of Vranje are timber industry, clothing,
footwear and furniture, food and beverages, agricultural, textile industry,
chemical industry, construction industry, machinery and equipment, and business
services. There are more than 2,500 small- and medium-size companies. To potential
investors there are industrial sites, with plan documents and furnished
infrastructure. Among the companies with business locations in the city are British
American Tobacco, Simpo, Sanch, Mladenovic D.O.O, Kenda Farben, Danny style, OMV
and Hellenic Petroleum.[24]

As of September 2017, Vranje has one of 14 free economic zones established in

Serbia.[25]

Historical statistics
As of 1961, there were 1,525 employees; in 1971, there were 4,374 employees; and in
1998, there were 32,758 employees.[citation needed] Following the breakup of
Yugoslavia, and due to sanctions imposed on FR Yugoslavia during the rule of
Slobodan Milošević, the number of employees began to drop; factories which employed
a large number of people closed, among whom are Yumco and Koštana. As of 2010,
there were only 18,958 employed inhabitants and 7,559 unemployed.[citation needed]
As of 2010, the city of Vranje has 59,278 available workers.[citation needed] In
2010, the City Council passed the "Strategy of sustainable development of the city
of Vranje from 2010 to 2019," for the achievement of objectives through a
transparent and responsible business partnership with industry and the public.[24]

As of 2020, a total of 24,509 people were employed. A total of 5,921 people

(19.46%) were unemployed.[26]

Economic preview
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed
in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2020):[26]