Italian newspaper: Kosovo, journey to Balkan heart

It happened to me with Kosovo. After the trip last spring, about two weeks ago I had the pleasure of returning and discovering new destinations.

So writes Italian journalist Francesca Masotti in the article published on her blog “Letters from the Balcans”.

Unfortunately, Kosovo hardly appears on the travel destinations list, have you noticed? Many do not even know where he is; others think the war is not over. Kosovo, despite its geographicality in Europe, in the shared imagination of Europeans is a <x0->auropian”. Makes me feel uncomfortable with these people. They do not know that there are real treasures to be discovered there, such as ancient towns in Ottoman style, historical markets, decorated mosques dating back to the 400-500s and orthodox monasteries hidden in forests.

To visit without haste, and above all, without running away with the crowds of tourists. Instead of going to Paris, London, or Rome, will you decide, for once, to explore new unknown destinations?

Have you ever thought about it? Of course, there are no giant monuments, the Eiffel Tower or Colosseum, but Kosovo offers something far more precious and rare, which, unfortunately, we have forgotten the importance, namely civilization.

After my last trip, I returned home with the belief that this country deserves more than the attention it receives and that I, in my own small way, will do everything I need to let people discover what they have to offer.

And I'm not just referring to historical monuments, architecture or archaeological sites, which are there, but I refer to first of all one aspect that Kosovo is unique to in the European landscape, that is, in the human aspect. Yes, because unlike what you might think and regardless of what the media say, Kosovo is not a dangerous place at all, and its inhabitants are people who, to say amazingly, is little to say. Friendly, kind, and willing to help you at all costs.

A trip to Kosovo is a trip to the heart of the Balkans, to a country that still holds the deep wounds of a recent war and tragic ethnic cleansing, but which looks hopeful for the future. In this article, I will take you to the discovery of Prizren, Gjakova and Decani, the three jewelry each should include on their travel route to the Balkan Peninsula. (A special thanks to my friend Blerina, who directed me to the city of Gjakova, an unknown jewel to most people, where I would like to return soon, perhaps in the beautiful season).

Prizren, Kosovo Cultural Capital

Prizren is one of the most interesting cities in the Balkans. I've already had a chance to talk about it on a blog, but every time I come back, it's always a pleasure and I can't write about it again. It is the most popular destination in Kosovo and it is not difficult to understand why: Prizren is a jewel, with houses in Ottoman style, orthodox church, Catholic Church and ancient glass. To admire them all together you must climb to the top of Prizren Castle. Try to achieve it only before the Islamic prayer, and the show is guaranteed.

The historical center is highly collected and can be visited on foot.

Do not miss a visit to the mosque of Sinan Pasha, one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture in Kosovo dating back to 1615, with excellent paintings on both the main interior dome and the outside. Access to the mosque is free, anyone can visit it, the door is always open. Just take your shoes off and leave them in the right closet before you get in. After you leave, go to the back of the mosque, where there is a source of holy water, which believers use to wash their hands before praying, and several souvenir shops that sell magnificent traditional geometry carpets, tea cups, Turkish coffee, and various household items.

Other points of interest in the city are the Church of San Giorgio, the Church of the Holy Savior, the Stone Bridge and Turkish Banja Srpska. Take some time to explore the narrow streets of the old town and stop for coffee and baklava, very good at bar “Cremeria”.

A little curiosity: Do you know that in Prizren three languages are officially spoken? In addition to Albanian and Serbian, Turkish is spoken in Prizren, especially among the elderly. This news is very interesting. In fact, one of the things I like most about the Balkans is the blending of different ethnic groups and religions and Kosovo, together with Bosnia, is the most important example.

I Blooded, an Unexpected Treasure

The second stop on that trip was Gjakova, a town I wanted to visit for a long time. Before I talk about points of tourist interest, I'd like to open a suitable valve. Gjakova is the city that, more than anyone else, has suffered during the Kosovo conflict. Here was one of the darkest pages of contemporary history: In the spring of 1999, thousands of Kosovo Albanian men were killed in mass executions, and hundreds of women were violated by Serbian troops led by Milosevic.

Here, in this town near the border with Albania, the largest number of victims and war losers, whose exact number is not yet known, was recorded.

In addition to these tragic events, the city during the conflict was almost completely destroyed by Serb military and important sites and historic neighbourhoods, such as the Great Charshia, have been rebuilt several years ago.

You'll think this subject has nothing to do with the blog subject, which is travel.

But visiting Kosovo is not like going to Ibiza or Mykonos, so in my opinion it is also necessary to talk about these things. To deepen in these events, I advise you to read, among other things, this touching article from the “The Guardian”: “After two variations, the Hiden Victims of the Kosovo war are finally recogted”.

The blood was a surprise. Do you know that the biggest market in the Balkans is here? I didn't know, but in fact, the Gjakova market is big and it's beautiful, completely renovated for the reasons mentioned above. Today, there are wooden shops of local artisans, bars, cafes, restaurants, street art and during summer evenings, turned into one of the most popular stops of residents and tourists visiting Kosovo. Do you know there is also one of the oldest mosques on the Balkan Peninsula? It's the Hadum Mosque, the true jewel of Gjakova, a building dating back to the late 16th century and it's found on the old market. It is the most beautiful mosque I have seen on my travels to the Balkans, decorated with fine decorations, lead domes and a garden where the main rocks of the most influential members of the Muslim community in the city are located.

Far from the old market are two very important Catholic buildings, the Church of St. Peter and Paul and the Church of St. Anthony of Padua respectively: Do you know that the largest Catholic community in Kosovo lives in Gjakova? This place is full of surprises.