The minaret of the Sinan Pasha mosque is the first landmark I spotted upon approaching the center of Prizren. It rises to 143 ft. and seems to compete in height with the Sharr Mountains in the background. When we arrived at the city center, I was pleasantly greeted by the rushing sound of the river flowing across this picturesque town.
Sinan Pasha Mosque and Sveti Spas (background)
Sveti Spas or the Church of the Holy Savior is a Serbian Orthodox Church from the 14th century. It was heavily damaged during the Kosovo Unrest in 2004 together with thirty five other orthodox churches. Its interior is hollow. It was listed in 1990 as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance by the National Assembly of Serbia.
Sinan Pasha Mosque was built in the 17th century under the Ottoman Empire. It is also listed as a Monument of Culture of Exceptional Importance.
Sinan Pasha Mosque
Sinan Pasha is right in the center of town but while it is surrounded by the bustle of the city, I found a quiet corner inside the Mosque. A woman kindly offered me a chair so I could rest my weary legs. But not for long as I really wanted to wander around and check out the frescoes.
Dome of Sinan Pasha Mosque
Verses from the Quran are written on the dome while floral and geographical motifs decorate the walls and half domes.
The population of Prizren is composed largely of Kosovar Albanians and the predominant religion is Islam.
Kalaja Fortress (Kaljaja)
It was at this fortress where the history of Prizren unfolded. Archaelogical excavations around the area indicate that there was a settlement here during the Bronze Age. The fortress was rebuilt during the reign of Justinian, the eastern Roman Emperor. Byzantine rule ended in 1219-20 when the Serbian Nemanjic dynasty took control of Prizren. The Ottomans seized Prizren in 1455 and stayed till the early 20th century.
Old Stone Bridge
This bridge was reconstructed in 1982 after it was destroyed by the flood of November 1979.
Bistrica River
There are many restaurants just above the river, for good reason. It’s so relaxing to sit and watch the flow of the river and listen to its rhythmic sounds.
Shatërvan Square
It was pleasant to walk around town and not have to jostle with crowds. You can leisurely shop or check out restaurant menus while enjoying a cone of ice cream.
Monument to a war hero, Xhevat A. Berisha
Please read the translation below of the caption from the plaque in the photo.
Mother of God of Ljeviš Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
This Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the category, Monuments of Kosovo. The original church was built between 1306-1307 on the grounds of a previous Byzantine era church. With the arrival of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, the Church was converted into a mosque until 1912 when the Serbian Army reclaimed it. It sustained heavy damages during the Kosovo unrest of 2004. At the time of my visit in May of this year, the Church was closed and enclosed by a fence with barbed wire as you can see from the image below. Hopefully the Church will reopen in the near future so we can all behold its 14th century frescoes.
Mother of God of Ljeviš Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
For more on Kosovo, here’s my post about Pristina, the country’s capital: https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2024/07/pristina-is-special-place.html
How to get there from Tirana:
By bus: There are buses from Tirana to Kosovo and the journey takes about 3.5-4 hours. Check rome2rio.com for details.
Albania on tour with Eddy: I traveled comfortably to Kosovo with Eddy Fej Zulla from Albania on tour with Eddy. He was well recommended by a friend. Whether you’re traveling solo or with family/friends, check with Eddy about your sightseeing plans. You may reach him through WhatsApp 355 69 919 9085. Or contact him by email at edisonfejzulla1@gmail.com.
Currency: euro
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Images by TravelswithCharie