The Kosovo essential tour is a concentrated tour of the major monuments this small and young country offers. It is a great introductory tour to its past and recent history, monuments and traditions.
Location: Kosovo
Duration: 5 days
We welcome you at Pristina Airport and transfer to Prizren one of the most beautiful towns in Kosovo for overnight.
Prizren, the second largest in the country, is a beautiful city situated on the slopes of the Sharr Mountains in southern Kosovo, close to the border with Albania. It is a historic city known for the arts and crafts something which becomes obvious as soon as you approach the centre, with cobble stone roads, beautifully crafted shops, bars and restaurants built in a typical Ottoman architecture. Prizren offers some great religious monuments representing different faiths, with the 14th century Orthodox Church of “Our Lady of Ljevis” being the most important, becoming part of the UNESCO list of protected Medieval Monuments of Kosovo in 2006. Other monuments and sites we visit are: The Mosque of Sinan Pasha built in 1615, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Prizren's main Catholic church from 1870), House of the League of Prizren, the Stone Bridge and bazaar. Gjakova which comes next, has a Grand Bazaar thought to be the oldest in Kosovo also known as Ҫarshi, full of old houses & shops, a Turkish Bathhouse or Hamam and the 16th century Hadum Aga Mosque. Overnight in Gjakova in the old quarter.
This is a day dedicated to religious monuments and art in Kosovo. The Monastery complex of Decani is considered as the largest medieval church in the Balkans and contains the most extensive beautifully preserved fresco decorations. It deservingly is one of the most important parts of the Medieval Monuments of Kosovo under the protection of UNESCO for their importance in the preservation of World Heritage. This monastery was constructed by Serbian king Stefan Urosh buried in the chapel and his son Stefan Dushan. Interesting is the fact that the catholicon has striking similarities to a roman catholic church which can be explain by the fact that its architect was a Franciscan monk from the Montenegrin town of Kotor where he was in contact with obvious architectural influences from Venice. Continue to visit the Patriarchate of Peja constructed in the XIII century. It is composed of three small churches with beautiful frescoes. The complex of churches for its architectural and cultural values it represents is part of UNESCO. At Gracanica a few kilometers from Pristina, we visit the superb 14th century Orthodox Church founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321, a triumph of Byzantine architecture and part of the Kosovo Medieval Monuments protected by UNESCO. Finally close by visit ancient remains of Ulpiana a roman town in the province of Dardania populated by the Illyrian tribe of Dardanoi. After an earthquake it was rebuilt by Emperor Justinian hence was also known as Justiniana Secunda. Overnight in Pristina.
Today we will walk through the capital Pristina exploring its main attractions in the centre and surroundings including: the Mother Teresa Square, the Monument of Scanderbeg (Albanian National Hero), the clock tower, Kosovo Government building and the “New Born” monument which is becoming the symbol of this new state. Of particular interest are the Ottoman period mosques of Pristina with probably the most beautiful, being the Fatih Mosque dating back to 1461 during the golden era of Sultan Mehmet II. Its huge ceiling domed cupola crowns a splendidly painted floral interior of Arabesque design. Nearby is Pristina's oldest building, the Çarshia Mosque completed in 1389. The Ethnographic Museum situated in a typical Ottoman architecture house is a beautifully stocked with original artefacts which testify to the traditions and way of living of the people in Kosovo. After the lunch just outside Pristina visit the Battle of Kosovo monument dedicated to the battle of 1389 between a Balkan Alliance force led by Serbian prince Lazar against an Ottoman army led by Sultan Murad I. The battle was fierce and both leaders of the armies were killed in battle. Then continue further to visit the monument as well as the Tomb of Sulltan Murad I. Return to Pristina for overnight.
Free time until departure to airport.
335 Euro per person sharing a double or twin room for minimum 6 participants
395 Euro per person sharing a double or twin room for minimum 4 participants
550 Euro per person sharing a double or twin room for minimum 2 participants
Single supplement = 65 Euro. (Single rooms will usually be double or twin for single use.)
March, April, May, June, September, October, November
