381(0)214724088Province of Kosovo and Metohija, currently under UN/EU administration, with its population of nearly 2 million people and covering an area of 10900 km2, still is waiting to be discovered by the tourists. Multiethnic society, rich historical heritage and wonderful natural sites are guarantee for brand new attraction on the tourism map of Europe. Today events are prevents us to travel there within mass tourism but we will try to at least on this way to show the pride of the south Serbian province.
History
During 6th and 7th century AD Slavs tribes from the north settled on the Balkans Peninsula, but also in the area known today as Kosovo. In the very beginning Byzantines managed to convert Slavs into Christians and by that act to put them under their control.
In the medieval age region of the Province became well-known as place where very first Serbian state was created and where the Kingdom of Serbia raise to its power. Still in the beliefs of many Serbs this region is considered as “the cradle of Serbia”. Two-century reign of medieval Serbian Kings and Emperors has been marked in history as “Golden Age of Serbia”. Within this period some of remarkable monuments of the Orthodox Christianity have been built in Kosovo and Metohija, many of them later came under protection of UNESCO.
The Battle of Kosovo, held on June 28 1389, at the field of Gazimestan, where Serbian and Ottoman armies fought, seemed to be turnover in the history of all Serbs, but of Europe, too. Although the battle was declared as a draw, with both armies loosing their commanders, it opened the way to the Ottomans’ invasion and their further conquest in Europe. 80 years after the battle of Kosovo, medieval Serbia came under Ottomans’ rule and remained so almost five centuries.
Serbia restored its independence following will of major European powers on the Congress of Berlin held in 1878, but medieval Serbian territories had to wait until 1912 when they where liberated by the United Balkans’ Army.
Priština
Priština is the largest city in Kosovo and Metohija, the southern Serbian province where ethnic Albanians, in February 2008 self proclaimed independence. Priština shares the fate of the whole Kosovo and Metohija. Although once the area where the first Serbian state was created, today in Priština, the Albanians are majority population, while Serbs are mainly located in the village of Gracanica, a few kilometers east of Priština, where is one of the most important Serbian monasteries with the same name - Gracanica. It is estimated that the city has over half a million people while 40,000 Serbs were exiled after the NATO air strikes in 1999. In addition to the Albanians and Serbs here live the Turks, Bosnians and Roma.
Throughout the history, the city was at the crossroads of major trade and conquering routes, between Dubrovnik and Constantinople, Vienna and Athens. Near Pristina are remains of the Roman town Ulpiana, and during the 3rd and 4th century Byzantine Emperor Justinian restored the city which was then one of the most beautiful cities of the Illyrian Dardania.
In the vicinity of Pristina, on the June 28th, at the Gazimestan field, in 1389 was the famous Battle of Kosovo between Serbian and Turkish armies. Although both sides lost their military leaders, and withdrew from the battlefield, the Turks opened the way for further conquest of Europe and kept in the region the next 500 years. The city has preserved many buildings of oriental architecture such as the Carska Mosque and the Carsi Mosque from the 15th century.
One of the most difficult periods in the history of Kosovo is NATO bombing in 1999 which Albanians supported, although they also were killed by NATO bombs. The peace agreement conditioned the withdrawal of Serbian army and obtained a protectorate by KFOR. Then began the ethnic cleansing of Serbs by Albanians, the mysterious disappearances of people (suspicions of human organ trafficking), the occasional terrorist attacks on the Serbian population. One of the major persecution occurred on 17th March 2004 when during the two-day demonstrations of Albanians over 800 Serbian homes, 29 churches and monasteries were destroyed and hundreds of Serbs left their homes in fear for their lives. Today in Priština lives a small number of Serbs. After the declaration of independence that Serbia did not recognize, Prišinia with the support of the European Union began to intensively develop and build.
We recommended tourists to visit the monastery of Gracanica friom XIV century, 5 km away from Priština, Gazimestan, Museum of Kosovo, and find accommodation in the hotel "Grand" and hotel "Kosovski Božur" in Priština.
Prizren
City of Prizren is the second biggest in the Province of Kosovo and Metohija, with population nearly of 200.000. There are the records of human settlements dating back to the ancient times, when Illyrian tribes lived before the Roman conquered this area and established Theranda, now known as Prizren.
Shortly after the Fall of Rome Byzantines restored the reign over the region and it lasted until 830 AD when it was incorporated into First Bulgarian Empire. For a four-century period Byzantines managed to return and to reinstall their rule, but they were driven out finally in 1208 by the Serbian forces.
During the era of Serbian rulers city of Prizren grew significantly and many kings and dukes built their own courts, respectively. This period was also marked with construction of some of the remarkable masterpieces of the medieveal Serbian architecture. In the XIV century king Stefan Milutin started to build the Temple of Holy Lady of Ljevis who would lately become the seat of Serbian Orthodox Church Episcopate of Prizren. His grandson and first Serbian Emperor, Stefan Dusan, gave to the city an imperial status by establishing imperial court in the fortress of Kaljaja. In year of 1343 Dusan has ordered a construction of Monastery of Saint Archangel which was completed in 1552. It took only 9 years to build this massive complex which dominates over the area. After Dusan’s death in 1355 importance of Prizren declined and only within one century it changed many rulers. The Ottoman Empire soon took the city in 1545. Later it became a part of the Ottoman province of Rumelia. It was a prosperous trade city, benefiting from its position on the north-south and east-west trade routes across the Empire. Prizren became one of the larger cities of the Ottomans' Kosovo Province.
Present-day Prizren is greatest multiethnic area within entire Kosovo and Metohija, although only dozens Serbs are still living in the city. Visiting Prizren and its surroundings might proof worthy and visiting Kosovo and Metohija but do not visit this tremendous place would be real petty. Its rich historical and cultural heritage and a multiethnic spirit should be a wildcard for the tourists who are planning the trip to this area.
National Park of Šar Mountain
Šar mountain
Šar mountain is grandiose Central Balkan range, in the most southern part along the Serbian border with Macedonia and extends to the length of 85 km. Includes National Park with the same name which is known as highmountain endemism and untouched nature.
Brezovica
Brezovica is a famous tourist center located at the Šar Mountain in southern Serbia. This is a sports and recreation complex, which is located at altitude of 900 to 2500 meters.This high-mountain ambient are decorated by the thick forest, meadows and vast wealth of sources and surface water. On the highest parts the alpine climate prevails, where the snow keeps most time of the year. Favorable climatic conditions have created a good base for the development of winter tourism. Due to the length of snow cover, slope and altitude of individual tracks, Brezovica is excellent place for skiing. Very good quality of snow makes the structure of snow trails safe and very fast. Brezovica once hosted many national and international competitions in various sports on snow, as well as a popular center for the preparation of athletes. Today this place waiting to be updated and the need to invest much to restore the old glory. We recommend to visit Brezovica during the summer season, due to close contact with untouched nature that you can meet through the individual walks, recreation and visits of cultural and historical monuments of this region.
Gazimestan
Gazimestan is located about 5 km northwest of Priština. It represents the plateau on which the battle of Kosovo took place in 1389, in which the Serbian army stopped the further progress of Ottoman to the Europe.From this exsalted plateau rises a monument, built in 1953, dedicated to the Kosovo heroes. This stone monument, the height of 25 m, was built as a medieval tower and it is visible from considerable distance. To the top reaches the spiral stairs where from the visitors have a clear view of the Kosovo Field, while the plan of Battle of Kosovo is presented on the board in the interior of bronze monuments. This area still presenting one of the most sacred places of Orthodox Serbs. Feel the spirit of the historic battle.
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Monasteries of Kosovo and Metohija on UNESCO list of world heritage
Pećka Patrijaršija
In the monastery are four churches from different periods, and their mutual parvis. Here was the centuries-old seat of the Serbian archbishops and patriarchs, so this is one of the most important monuments of Serbian past. The oldest church is dedicated to St. Apostles, was built in the first half of 13 century with desire that seat of Serbian church be on a less vulnerable place. As founders are mentioned Arsenije I and St. Sava, who originated the idea of construction. In the church are graves of Archbishop Arsenija, Joanikije II, St. Save and other Serbian church dignitary. ......
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Dečani
The monastery was built from 1327 - 35 year. The main temple builder was Fra Vita from Kotor. Founders of this imposing church are the king Stefan Dechanski and his son, Dusan the emperor. In the monastery was built hospital for monks. First time was ruined after the Kosovo battle, but it was soon restored by Princess Milica. In the monastery was school for transcription and decoration of books being active for a long time . Grandiose paintings has over a thousand very well preserved compositions. In the church, in front ofthe altar are two sarcophaguses. In one are relics of St. Stefan Dechanski stored in the shrine, which was donated to the monastery in 1849 by the Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjevic. In the second chest, once was the body of Helen, sister of Stefan Dechanski. Monastery today has certainly the most wealthiest church treasury in Serbia. ............
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Đurđevi Stupovi 
The monastery was built in 1170 -74 as the foundation of Stefan Nemanja. By the legacy, he built the temple in the honor of St. Djordje as gratitude for releasing him from the cave - the prison in which the brothers captured him. Magnificent church, as well as the entire monastery was built on top of the hill, so to dominate the environment, which gives them a magnificent look. The monastery was once ruined in explosion, but it is renewing thanks to the brotherhood that reassembled a few years ago...............
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Bogorodica Ljeviška 
Temple was built in 1307. on the foundations of the older churches. This Prizren church is one in a series of forty endowment of St. Milutin. Bogorodica Ljeviska is the first grated monument built in the spirit of Byzantine architecture. Under Turkish rule the church was turned into a mosque. In 1918. temple was returned to the Serbian Orthodox Church....
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Gračanica 
This beautiful temple was built in 1321 by King Milutin as his last endowment. From monastery complex is saved only the church that presents a high-quality work of late Byzantine architecture. Grachanica is very often in its history ruined but persistently and updated, as a symbol of Serbs and its struggle for Kosovo. Here are famous portraits of King Milutin and Queen Simonida. In 1539, printer mashine was built in the monastery , but only a few books are saved until today. In front of altar is a shrine with the relics of St. Stefan - icon defender, who died in the 8th century by heretics in Constantinople.
