Reid & Robie

Kosovo is a small country, but it has a lot of riches granted to us by God.

– Ibrahim Rugova

In May Robie and I visited Kosovo, the newest Balkan country.

Located between Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro, landlocked Kosovo is mountainous with high plains, rolling hills and freshwater streams. The country was part of Serbia following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s until 2008 when the Republic of Kosovo declared independence.

Celebrated across the region for the 14^th century Battle of Kosovo, it was on the country’s high plains that a determined band of Serbian Christians met a larger Ottoman army and defended their homeland against Muslim expansion in Europe. While the Ottomans prevailed, any victory was hollow as both leaders were killed, and each army decimated. But with their reserves in Anatolia, the Ottomans returned the following year taking the region, introducing Islam and resettling ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

Prizren

Robie and I spent a week in Prizren, the cultural capital of Kosovo. Located in the foothills of the Sharr Mountains, the city is bisected by the Lumbardhi River. And with its architectural diversity, rich cultural heritage, well-preserved old town and vibrant atmosphere, Prizren’s the undiscovered gem of Kosovo.

Sinan Pasha Mosque

With Prizren’s large Albanian population, most of the inhabitants are Muslim, and while many minarets dot the skyline, the elaborate Sinan Pasha Mosque is visible from anywhere in the city.

Interior of the Sinan Pasha Mosque

Turkish Influences

Across Prizren Turkish influences are everywhere. From the colorful seating at restaurants to patio fountains, an historic hammam and traditional formal costumes in store windows. 

Prizren Churches
With a growing Christian community, Prizren is dotted with churches – both Catholic and Orthodox.

And in some are amazing frescoes like the Byzantine-era Church of St. George, one of Prizren’s oldest.

Call to prayer vs church bells

Daily the mosques and churches compete for airtime which we caught on video. Click the images below to listen to the call to prayer and ringing of church bells in Prizren.

Church bells

Local cuisine

In Prizren the local cuisine combines the Albanian love for grilled meat with Turkish spices creating dishes like stewed peppers with lamb served over polenta, traditional Kosovan bread and plenty of Turkish sweets.

But the biggest surprise was finding a restaurant offering Mexican food in Prizren! And since it had been nearly a year since we’d had anything resembling our favorite food, we had to try the chicken tacos, beef quesadillas and spicy, chile cheese fries, a welcome taste of home in the Balkans.

Where to stay in Prizren

Our best find was the Guesthouse Hotel My Home in the heart of Prizren’s old town. Run by owners Nue and Linda (named after Linda Evans on Dynasty), they turned their home into a small hotel offering clean, convenient and affordable rooms with the friendliest patio in Prizren!

We hope you enjoyed this taste of Prizren in Kosovo. Stay tuned for more Balkan adventures as we head to North Macedonia next!