Ottoman Pristina - Sightseeing in Pristina - In Your Pocket city guide - essential travel guides to cities in Kosovo

Right next to the clock tower stands another of Pristina's few remaining 19th century Ottoman konak-style private houses. It is currently used by the Academy of Arts and Sciences who have added a rather ugly glass winter garden to the building. If you ask you can enter to walk around the courtyard. [...]

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Rr. Nazim Gafurri

Çarshia Mosque

The 'market mosque' is Pristina's oldest building, constructed in the 15th century by Turkish Sultan Bajazit to commemorate the 1389 victory. Now no longer part of the old bazaar complex and no longer in posession of a a mausoleum, the one-room mosque is marooned in front of the Kosovo Museum. [...]

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Rr. Meto Bajraktari

Bazaar

Pristina's liveliest area is without doubt the large bazaar, east of Rruga Ilir Konusheci. Although most of it was destroyed in the 1950s, it still retains the bustling atmosphere typical of all Balkan markets. All kinds of goods are for sale: fruit, vegetables, Albanian flags, cigarettes (stacked up in walls of cartons), kitchen utensils, car parts, dodgy mobile phones and more, making for a fascinating stroll. Many of the friendly traders are returned refugees and know German, Italian or English, and will be happy to strike up conversation. [...]

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Clock Tower

Every market town in the Ottoman Empire needed a clock tower so the faithful knew when to pray and shops could all close and reopen at the same time so that no trader got any advantage from staying open longer. Pristina's 19th century, 26-metre high clock tower looks very similar to the one in Skopje. It was built by Jashar Pasha beside the mosque bearing his name in the centre of the old bazaar area, and was made with sandstone and bricks. The original bell, which originated from Moldova, was stolen in 2001. A new clock was installed with help of the French KFOR troops, and seeing it runs on electricity we were quite surprised that it indicated the correct time on all of its faces when we last checked. [...]

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Rr. Ylfete Humolli

Fatih Mosque

Opposite the clock tower, the Fatih or Imperial Mosque was built in 1461 under Turkish Sultan Mehmed II Fatih ('the conqueror'), as witnessed by the Arabic engraving above the main door. Inside, painted floral decorations and arabesques grace the walls and ceiling. Pristina's grandest building has [...]

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Rr. Ilir Konusheci

Great Hamam

Near the Fatih Mosque, Pristina's grandest remaining bath complex was in a sorry state of repair, and is currently undergoing much-needed restoration. Built in 1470 the public baths form a symmetrical pair of baths within one complex, one for men and women each. The complex is graced with 15 domes, [...]

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Rr. Ilir Konusheci

IMMK building

About 150m from the clock tower, this reconstructed house that once belonged to the Kocadishi family represents a typical Ottoman 19th century merchant's home, with an overhanging first floor, veranda, high walls around the perimeter and strictly separated areas within the compound for business and [...]

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Rr. Ermin Duraku 1

tel. +381 38 24 93 03

Jashar Pasha Mosque

Beside the Academy building, this 16th century mosque (completed much later in the 19th century) is similar to the Carsi Mosque in architecture and interior decoration. The original portico was demolished to make way for a wider road. [...]

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Rr. Ylfete Humolli

Shadërvani fountain

The elegant marble shadërvani fountain or water well, just behind the Çarshia Mosque, is one of the last remaining public watering holes in Pristina. Despite the busy road nearby, it's still used as a place for old men to sit and chat. [...]

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Rr. Nazim Gafurri

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