South Slavic; Косово - Serbian pos. adj. of kos (кос) = blackbird. An ellipsis for Kosovo Polje = Blackbird Field, site of 1389 Battle of Kosovo. Applied to the wider area 1st by the Ottoman's when creating the Vilayet of Kosovo in 1877 - Kosova or Kosovë in Albanian. In Serbia the region is referred to as Kosovo & Metohija.†
Some Albanians refer to Kosovo as Dardania, (as referenced on the Presidential Seal) - the name of an ancient regional kingdom of the Dardani tribe. Related to Proto-Albanian dardā = pear (Modern Albanian: dardhë)
† Only the east🔍 , centered on Kosovo Field is considered to be Косово & the west is Metohija from the Greek metóchia = monastic estates – a reference to the large number of Medieval Serbian Orthodox monasteries (Alternatively the Albanian: Dukagjin or Dukagjini plateau - named after the medieval Albanian Dukagjini family.)
Kosovo has rich history, with medieval monasteries, feudal-style forts & charming old towns amid a youthful, multicultural vibe all at affordable prices.
@ a glance essentials:
.
Language:
Albanian
-
-
Water safety
Generally Safe to Drink in tourist areas. Go Bottled when Remote.
Many Locals can speak English, particularly the younger generations in the large cities.
Currency:
Euro
Local Transport
There is a bus network in large cities but smaller towns will require a car.
Neighboring Serbia doesn't recognize Kosova as a separate state, so if you're visiting both D⛔N'T enter Serbia from Kosova; Serbia won’t honor the Kosovo entry stamps, so when you try to leave Serbia, it will look to them like you entered the country illegally.
Hot Tip:
Kosovo's history may be the most complex of all the Balkan states🔍 as it's very existence is still disputed. Inhabited since at least the Neolithic Age, the Dardani tribe emerged in the 4c BC establishing the Kingdom of Dardania before the Romans conquered much of the region in the 2c BC. After the Roman Empire split, Slavic tribes migrated to the Balkans in the 6c AD
The land that would become Kosovo switched hands several times during this time, included periods under Byzantine rule and a brief stint as part of the First Bulgarian Empire in the 9c By the 13c it was an integral part of the Serbian Kingdom🔍, which was later invaded by the Ottomans, who conquered much of the kingdom including an area they named the Vilayet of Kosovo† in 1877.
a bit of background...
............................................... The Gorani community, an ethnic Slav group found in southern parts of Kosovo, is one of the few place you can still find a centuries old wedding tradition meant to ward off evil spirits & bring luck to the bride - heavy white makeup is applied to her face embellished with lines, symbols sequins or gems (always by an older woman)
CULTURAL TIDBIT:
In the late 19c an ethnic Albanian Nationalism & Resistance against the Ottomans was centered in Kosovo†† but after the Albanian revolts, Balkan Wars and WWI, Kosovo was again ceded to the Kingdom of Serbia. A large scale Serbian colonization was undertaken, with many Albanians forced to emigrate - only for most of Kosovo to then be 'assigned' to Albania by the invading Axis Powers in WWII.
After the war it was reorganized as the Autonomous Region of Kosovo & Metohija within Yugoslavia. The Albanians and Serbians continued to clash and in 1992 Albanians proclaimed independence as the 🔎Republic of Kosova - and the issue was still not resolved after the Bosnian War. In the late 90's, the guerrilla, Albanian paramilitary, Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), began launching attacks against Yugoslavia, sparking the Kosovo War. NATO intervened and established an Interim Administration Mission giving Kosovo autonomy within Yugoslavia. When Yugoslavia dissolved it became part of the new Serbia, but Kosovo quickly redeclared it's independence - a declaration still unrecognized by the Serbs.
† Though the borders were different than the modern country.
†† Kosovo's population has always included a significant number of Albanians - Albanian may have spoken in the region prior to the Slavic settlements of the 6c - and tensions
between Albanians and Slavic Serbs has been a source of strive for most of Kosovo's history.
After the great migration of Serbs out of the area, post the Great Turkish War, a repopulation push of non-Slav Muslim Albanians led to a significant Albanian majority.
Must Try Local Cuisine:
Baklava ∞ Burek† - phyllo pastries filled w/ cheese, minced meat, spinach + yogurt/ egg mixture
Ajvar - roasted red bell pepper & eggplant relish/ spread ∞ Gibanica - pastry filled w/ soft cheese
Sarma - cabbage roulade w/ minced meat, bacon, fried onions, rice & egg
Sataraš - stew w/ tomatoes, onions & peppers, when had for breakfast, it's topped w/ eggs
Tavë Prizreni†† - lamb & rice casserole w/ a yogurt & egg topping ∞ Tarator - cold cucumber yogurt soup
Pasulj,* Grah (or Grav)- white beans, pinto &/or cranberry bean stew w/ smoked meat
➿➰➿
† Also known as Börek, Byrek, or Boureki †† "Dish of Prizren" Kosovo's version of Tavë Kosi an Albania dish that gained popularity due to large # of Albanian residents
* Pasulj is so ubiquitous it inspired an idiom – "prosto kao pasulj" = "simple as pasulj" – like the English idiom “as easy as pie”
I haven't yet had the opportunity to visit
Kosovo
(but it's on the list!) - So I don't have any personal
(If you get there first send me your best finds !)
recommendations yet, but you can start with the most popular spots
below, and I'll update with my favorites, hopefully soon!
Most Known For:
♦️ Pristina - with 73 white domes of brutalist National Library, ("ugliest building in the world")
soviet Spomenik† and Mosques like the 19c Jashar Pasha in Old Quarter, the 15c
Sultan Mehmet Fatih, (aka Imperial Mosque) & Carshi (aka Taş/ Stone Mosque)
🔸 Serbian Orthodox Churches🔍 & Medieval Monasteries with ornate mural work like Visoki
Dečani Monastery, Peć Patriarchate, and 14c Gračanica Monastery built atop a 6c
basilica with a Miloš Obilić statue outside of the gates, honoring the 14c Serbian
knight/national hero who assassinated Ottoman Sultan Murad I.††
♦️ Peja / Peć - near the beautiful Rugova Canyon popular with hikers
🔸 Stunning Limestone Caves like the karst Marble Cave, found by a villager in 1966
♦️ Cathedral of Saint Mother Teresa* & Church of the Blessed Lady in Letnica
👀 NOTABLE KOSOVAR:
📿 Saint Mother Teresa | Humanitarian
(an ethnic Albanian born in Macedonia, she lived in Letnica | Kosovo village @ the time of her dedication to the Lord's service at 18)
† Yugoslavian sculptures built to commemorate anti-fascist resistance
†† Guarded by NATO troops, you’ll need a passport to enter
👣
🌀 Etno Fest (September)- the small village of Kukaj (that had less than 10 homes when the festival was started)
hosts a four-day ethnic festival bringing together a mix of Albanian customs and insight into Illyrian
traditions with actors, dancers, musicians, cooks, painters & photographers showcasing their artistic
creation under an open sky and Agrofest of traditional Albanian food
🌀 Hardh Fest - a celebration of the 🍇 grape-growing regions of Kosova and their products
🌀 Chopin Piano Fest - celebrating Chopin who was born in Prishtina
🌀 Sunny Hill Festival - a relatively new annual international music festival organized by Dua Lipa, and her
Albanian father Dukagjin Lipa
🌀 Dokufest Film Festival
Site Key:
Five Star Recommend
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