This is a concentrated tour of the major monuments of Kosovo using the easier access with low-cost airlines at the airport of Skopje the capital of Macedonia. This Kosovo tour still manages to give the visitor a full picture of what this new country has on offer.
Location: Kosovo
Duration: 5 days
We welcome you at Skopje Airport in FYR of Macedonia, and transfer to Prizren one of the most beautiful towns in Kosovo for overnight. We will drive through some beautiful natural areas which are a great introduction into Kosovo’s natural landscape. Overnight in Prizren.
Prizren the second largest in the country is a beautiful city situated on the slopes of the Sharr Mountains. It is a historic city known for the arts and crafts something which becomes obvious as soon as you approach the centre of town with beautifully crafted cobble stone roads, shops, bars restaurants built in a typical Ottoman architecture. Prizren offers some great religious monuments representing different faiths, with possibly 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 Stone Bridge, the Sinan Pasha Mosque built in 1615, the Old Bazaar, the Church of St. George, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Prizren's main catholic church from 1870), House of the League of Prizren . After these visits proceed to Gjakova which 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.
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. Many find 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, with obvious influences from Venice and Ragusa nearby. 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 Medieval Monuments of Kosovo protected by UNESCO. Gracanica a few kilometres from Pristina, houses a superb 14th century Orthodox Church founded by the Serbian king Stefan Milutin in 1321, considered a triumph of Byzantine architecture. This is another monument part of the Kosovo UNESCO sites. Finally, close by, visit ancient remains of Ulpiana, a Roman town in the province of Dardania also known as Justiniana Secunda, confirming Kosovo’s ancient past. Overnight in Pristina.
Today we walk through the capital Pristina exploring its main attractions in the centre and surroundings including: the Mother Teresa Boulevard, 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 beautifully stocked with original artefacts which testify to the traditions and way of living of the people in Kosovo. Outside Pristina we 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. In fact immediately after we will visit the grave or Turbe of Sultan Murad I which is situated only a few kilometres away. Return to Pristina for overnight.
After early breakfast we drive to the Skopje International airport of the capital city of nearby Macedonia.
340 Euro per person sharing a double or twin room for minimum 6 participants
405 Euro per person sharing a double or twin room for minimum 4 participants
590 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.)
Includes:
March, April, May, June, September, October, November
