Kosovo Highlights tour

Abstract:

Activities:

Tour description:

DEPARTURES:

Let’s go on a journey during which we will discover Kosovo and Metohija; to the Serbian population – the southern province of Serbia and the cradle of history and culture, to the Albanian population – the youngest self – determined European country. Visit some of the pearls of the UNESCO world cultural heritage, find inspiration in many centuries-old tradition and spirituality centers, learn about mixing and permeation traditions and heritage of two great cultural and civilization circles, feel the magic o gastronomic treats… Let’s discover Kosovo and Metohija together!

Day 1.

Departure from Novi Sad from parking lot near locomotive at 00:00, from Belgrade at 01:30 from parking lot in New Belgrade (flea market). We are traveling to Kosovska Mitrovica via Raška with few breaks along the way. Arrival in Banjska monastery in the morning, the endowment of King Stefan Uroš II Milutin from XIV century and the tour of the monastery complex. After the visit to monastery, our next destination is Kosovska Mitrovica. Panoramic tour of Kosovska Mitrovica, and short visit to  Church of St. Dimitrije, where you can enjoy beautiful panoramic view of the whole city. Check-in and a short break. Afterwards, visit to Muratov turbet, where the Murats womb is stored, while embalmed body is located in Busa, Turkey, and the tour of the complex. We continue our journey to Gazimestan and visit to the monument dedicated to the heroes of Kosovo. Departure to Gračanica, the endowment of King Milutin which dates from XIV century and the tour of the monastery, and then a short visit to archeological complex Ulpiana or Justiniana Secunda which was the Roman and Early Byzantine town in the province of Upper Moesia. We are heading to Priština. Upon arrival in Priština – tour of the city and visiting its most famous cultural – historical monuments (city center, promenade of Mother Theresa, theater, monument dedicated to Skenderbeg, mosque of Jašar Paša…), and also, visit to recently built Cathedral dedicated to Mother Theresa, the biggest Roman – catholic temple in the Balkans which construction was finished in 2010. In the evening return to Kosovska Mitrovica and dinner with traditional music of Kosovo and Metohija in a hotel. Overnight.

Day 2.

Check-out from hotel. After breakfast we are going to visit Peć and Pećka patrijaršija, one of the one of the jewels of Serbian architecture from the XIII century. This beautiful site is on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2006, and by the middle of the XVIII century was advanced monastic center and home to about hundereds of monks. It is still the center of Serbian Patriarchy. Pećka patrijaršija is mainly composed of Serbs, but also many other Ortodox Balkan nations that are under its jurisdiction, and thus the Rila Monastery was under its jurisdiction too. During the period of Ottoman rule, Pećka patrijaršija had enormous significance for the preservation of religious autonomy and Christian identity. We continue our journey to Visoki Dečani, where we are visiting impressive endowment of Stefan III Dečanski, which construction was finished at the end of the XIV century dedicated to Christ Pantocrator and Ascension of the Lord. Upon completion of the planned visits, we continue our journey to Prizren. Upon arrival in Prizren – visiting cultural – historical monuments like Church of St. Đorđe from the end of XIX centrury, the seat of the Bishop of Raska – Prizren region, Prizren Serbian Ortodox Seminary, Church of St. Nikola from the XIV century also known under name Tutićeva church, Bogorodica Ljeviška – the  endowment of King Milutin built in XIV century, the seat of Prizren episcopacy which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2006 as part of the ensemble of medieval monuments in Kosovo and Metohija. This church was damaged during the Turkish rule in XVIII century when some of the frescoes were destroyed by hammers, covered with plaster, and a church was converted into a mosque, as well as during the attacks by Albanian extremist in 2004. We are also visiting Šardrvan – central square with a fountain, hamam, derviška tekija – Islamic religious buildings, which were the places where derviši, followers of Sufism, were gathering, Catholic church of Our Lady of perpetual help… Upon completion of the tour of Prizren – departure to Monastery of Holy Archangel, the endowment of Serbian emperor Stefan Dušan the Mighty (king 1331 – 1346, emperor 1346-1355), located in the canyon of the Bistrica river near Prizren, in Metohija, at the foot of Dušan town and belongs to the Raska – Prizren Eparchy of the Serbian Ortodox church. It was built in the period from 1343. to 1352., on the site of an older church within the fortress Višegrad as the mausoleum church of Emperor Dušan and it is considered to be the culmination of Serbian sacral architecture. Tour of the complex. The monastery was destroyed in the XVII century in order to obtain a construction material, which was used in construction of the mosque, built by Sinan Paša. This mosque is still located in the center of Prizren, but only its visible remains. Upon completion of planned activities, in the evening, departure to village Banov Do, which name is linked to the historical character Strahinjic Ban and to etno-village “Zavičaj”, and then dinner with traditional dishes of that region. After dinner (around 21:00) we continue our journey to Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Day 3.

Arrival in Belgrade and Novi Sad early in the morning. The end of program.

* Upon application for arrangement, it would be necessary to write down the address of the passenger in the footnote. This step is necessary to Issue you a Travel Guarantee Certificate.