Prizren

Prizren is the cultural capital of Kosovo. Its history dates back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age, which is reflected in its 11th-century fortifications, 13th-century churches, and 16th-century Ottoman mosques. The city’s heart is the cobblestoned Shadërvan Square, named for the Ottoman fountain at its center. Surrounding it, the Old Bazaar once buzzed with artisans, a legacy that continues today. The city’s significance in the modern era was cemented in 1878 as the birthplace of the Albanian League of Prizren, a pivotal movement for national unity and cultural identity. This layered past is visible everywhere, from the majestic Sinan Pasha Mosque (1615) to the crumbling ruins of the Prizren Fortress, which has been used since the Bronze Age.