Kosovo was a part of the sprawling Ottoman empire for over 400 years, which left its mark most clearly in its architecture. This Skopje gift experience is never less than fascinating, as you travel to Pristina, capital of Kosovo, to admire buildings ancient and modern with a professional guide. The tour begins at the Gračanica Monastery, founded by the king of Serbia in 1315. You’ll see the incredible National Library, with its 99 domes and fish-net facade, and the vast, open-air archaeological park with its stunning collection of artefacts and monuments drawn from over the centuries. Çarshi Mosque, another must-see, was build by a Turkish sultan in the 15th century, while the Academy Building is one of Pristina’s most symbolic Ottoman structures.
The tour continues to the Imperial Mosque and the Great Hammam, an impressive bath house where light streams in through intricate holes in the domes. You’ll see the 18th century Emin Gijuku Complex, the last remaining building in the old bazaar area, and the Gazimestan tower. Time will be allotted to buy lunch before the tour moves on to the historic city of Prizren. Walk the cobbled streets of the beautiful Ottoman old town to see many more well-preserved buildings of immense architectural significance, from townhouses to mosques, as you gain a valuable insight into Kosovo’s enthralling Ottoman past.
