Prizren, Serbian Constantinople

The symbol of Prizren, the Sinan pasha mosque, was built by Turkish conquerors on the remains of the endowment of Dušan the Mighty, the church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

The Bogorodica Ljeviška church, located in Prizren, was included in UNESCO World Heritage Sites List.

Since the ancient times, Prizren has been the most valuable and most significant city settlement in Kosovo and Metohija region. Today it is the city-museum with the remains of three ancient cities, churches that were included in UNESCO World Heritage Sites List and monumental mosques.

Old stories and legends are still live and vivid here, while winding streets, historic part of the city and imposing Stone bridge connecting two parts of the city approve its nickname “Serbian Constantinople”, known since the Middle Ages.

“If you admit that a Turk knows how to enjoy himself, than at least ask him: what makes a city or a village so beautiful? – And he’ll tell you: A beautiful teferič (festivity, celebration) and good water. And if that’s the case, than the city of Prizren is the city of all cities and the town of all towns, as Prizren has it all: a nice teferič and good water.”

This is how Branislav Nušić, a famous Serbian comedy writer, wrote about Prizren at the beginning of the 20th century. Beautiful town on the slopes of Šar mountain through which the pure and swift waters of the Bistrica river flow, has been described by many. The town was inhabited since ancient times, and it is assumed that Prizren existed even before the 6th century under the name of “Theranda”.

prizren It owes its present name to Byzantines, while Serbian medieval rulers turned it into a town well known for its beauty and trade that in several occasions was even proclaimed the capital city.

As testimonies of those times, the remains of fortified cities of Kaljaj and Višegrad, the Bogorodica Ljeviška church, the Sveta Nedelja church (eng. Holy Sunday church), the St. Nicholas church still stand tall in Prizren and its surroundings.

Turkish conquerors turned the endowment of Emperor Dušan the Mighty – the church of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel into the magnificent Sinan pasha mosque – another symbol of Prizren, worth of seeing just like the Bajrakli Mosque (the Mehmet pasha Mosque).

This is the city where visitors would feel the time has stopped. Here time is still measured by the old Clock tower, and two parts of the town are connected by the Stone Bridge. During the summer heats it is nice to visit the old hamam – an ancient Turkish bath, one of the three biggest in Serbia.

The beauties and uniqueness of Prizren’ architecture was recognized by UNESCO ‘ the Bogorodica Ljeviška church was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List in 2006. It is a part of the complex of medieval monuments in Kosovo and Metohija that are put under protection.

It seems that this magical land has always had certain significance – this church was built on the foundations of the 14th century cathedral that was also built above older early-Christian church.

Archaeological excavations at the sites Kaljaja and Drvengrad near Prizren revealed the remains of numerous peoples, natives and conquerors, who built, rebuilt and expanded these settlements according to their needs.

Not much has changed… the city is still being built, rebuilt, upgraded and expanded. It is changing its appearance, but not its spirit. The beautiful town on the slopes of Mt. Šara bathed by the Sun and cooled by the cold waters of the Bistrica river is still Prizren – “the city of all cities and the town of all towns”.

How to get to Prizren?

Prizren is 75km southwest from Priština. If you are coming Belgrade it is best to take the Ibar highway: Belgrade-Čačak–Kraljevo-Raška-Kosovska Mitrovica-Priština-Prizren, and you need to cross 400km.

If you are heading from the direction of Niš, the best way to go is to take the Niš-Prokuplje-Podujevo-Priština-Prizran which is about a 170km long.

From Crna Gora you can get to Prizren over Rožaje, Peć and Orahovac.

From the Belgrade bus station, there are four buses a day to Prizren.

When you are already here, don’t miss…

…going to Orahovac and Velika Hoča, and drink the best wines of the Metohija region, because that’s where the Kosovo and Metohija wine route is located.

Visit the Dečani monastery, protected by UNESCO, but also the Patriarchy of Peć.

In whatever time of year you come, you should definitely visit Brezovica on Šar mountain and enjoy yourself while sitting next to one of its quick streams.

Brezovica is also a sports and recreation complex with great fast, but safe ski slopes.