PRISHTINA Ancient History and Etymology the Assembly, the Government, schools, banks, Prishtina is located in the central part of the Sultan’s Mosque 10 was built on orders by Sultan Mehmet Fatih II - the Conque- university, hospitals and sports’ fields. Albanians Balkan Peninsula and traces back to the Neolithic ror. Based on the inscriptions in Arab language above the entrance, the mosque were expelled from their jobs. Apart from segre- era. The ancient town of Ulpiana is located near was built in 1461. The mosque was turned into a catholic church during the Aus- gation, this decade is known also for increase by; a town established in the 2nd century and trian-Turkish war at the end of 17th century. Pjetër Bogdani, one of the first Alba- of violence against Kosovans and mass depor- was inhabited until the 7th century. The town was nian writers, was buried there. Following the defeat of the war by the Austrians in tation of population from Kosovo. Only during abandoned after the year 518 following a devas- 1690, Bogdani’s remains were exhumed and thrown on the streets by the Turkish March-June 1999, about one million Albanians tating earthquake. Gracanica, where an ortho- forces, and the building was reversed to its prior function. were driven out of Kosovo to the neighbouring dox church is located, is also near Prishtina. This and other European countries. church was built in 1321 on the ruins of a 6th cen- Following almost a decade of peaceful resis- tury church. In the foundation of this church are province of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia. Democratic League and developed a parallel sys- tance through the parallel system, in 1998 a guer- visible the plaques with Latin inscriptions. There Prishtina became Kosovo’s capital city in tem, boycotting all the institutions of Serbia and rilla war began between the Albanians - organised are numerous hypothesis about the etymology 1947. In 1953, an urban plan for a ‘modern city of Yugoslavia. Under this system, health and edu- in the Kosovo Liberation Army - and Serbia’s ar- of the name Prishtina, but it is still not known. 50,000 people’ was developed. The city would cation institutions were carrying out their duties med and paramilitary forces. The violence that the country, and thus, the country embarked on be built on the ruins of the old town. During in Albanians’ private houses, whereas the Radio ensued against Kosovo Albanians, prompted NA- its journey as an independent country. Since 14th to 19th Century the 1950-1970, under the motto “destroy the Television of Albania broadcast two hours of pro- TO forces, which acted with the support of the in- 1999, Prishtina has seen major infrastructural The first historic document that mentioned old, build the new”, numerous parts of city’s gramming for Kosovo Albanians, which Kosovans ternational community, to intervene through its and organisational changes. Due to the demand the name Prishtina dates back to 1342 when the neighbourhoods were destroyed to build apart- watched via satellite. air campaign, forcing Serbia to withdraw from to move into urban area, new neighbourhoods Byzantine Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos des- ment buildings, administrative and health buil- Serbian regime put under its exclusive admi- Kosovo. The Kumanovo Agreement, which was were established, and many old neighbourhoods cribed it as a “gated village without walls.” Prish- dings, schools, squares and monuments. Frag- nistration all the Kosovo’s institutions, including signed on 9 June 1999, brought stability in Ko- have been reorganised, and instead of houses, tina fell under the Ottoman occupation after the ments of the old neighbourhoods remain in what sovo; withdrawal of Serb forces from the country high apartment buildings have been built. Kosovo’s Battle (1389). This battle marked the is now known as Prishtina’s Historic Centre, such and return of Kosovo’s people to their homes. Prishtina today is undergoing a process of end of the Serb reign in Kosovo and the end of as the Clock Tower, the Stone Mosque, the Im- planning, reorganisation and reinvention in an the Byzantine period. The first records noted in perial Mosque, etc. In 1988, the two rivers, Pri- 21st Century institutional level. There are efforts to preserve the Ottoman registers in 1477 describe Prishti- shtevka and Vellusha, were covered. After the liberation, Prishtina became the the cultural heritage buildings that portray the na as a location with nine neighbourhoods and capital city of Kosovo, which was put under an city’s rich history. There are new ambitious pro- 351 houses. The Ottoman period recorded Pri- Constitution of Kosovo international protectorate – the United Nations jects for modern neighbourhoods, institutional shtina’s development through mainly religious, In 1974, Kosovo’s status changed with the ap- Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). and cultural buildings, parks, sports and recrea- but also public buildings. Hamams, mosques, The Stone Mosque proval of the Constitution of Kosovo, which de This protectorate lasted until 2008 when Ko- tional facilities, and public spaces. Prishtina is wells, streets, inns and markets were built du- 11 It is the oldest remaining building in Pri- facto gave to the province the status of a repu- sovo declared its independence. The U.S., U.K, on a right path to become a true European ca- ring this time. shtina. The mosque started to be built in 1392, blic within Yugoslavia, although de jure, the pro- France, Germany, Italy immediately recognised pital city. Prishtina also was a commercial centre du- only three years after the Battle of Kosovo. Its vince was considered part of Serbia. Kosovo had ring this time, and from the 17th to the 19th cen- construction began under Sultan Bayezid, and it all the rights that other republics had, with the turies, the city organised international produce was finished under Sultan Fatih. Its key feature is exception of the right to secede. This Constitu- Police [Landline] Adem Jashari International Airport fairs. Merchants from various countries visited the stone minaret. tion provided for the opening of the University of 038/192 00383(0)385015021214 the fair for business. In the meantime, in the 19th Prishtina in the Albanian language, and employ- Police [Cell] century, Emin Gjiku’s house was turned into the ment of Albanians, as the majority community, 192, 112 Police Stations from 038 numbers first museum, with an exhibition of numerous increased significantly. This brought a new reality Nr.1: 00383(0)504-604-5059 family items. the Bulgarian rule until 1918, when the French in Prishtina and Kosovo. This period is well known Emergency Medical Nr.2: 00383(0)504-604-6748 From 1883 until 1897, Prishtina became the forces put it under the Yugoslav Kingdom’s oc- for major investments in the city, including esta- 194 Nr.3: 00383(0)504-604-6796 capital city of Kosovo’s Vilayet. During this time, cupation. This period was marked with intensive blishment of neighbourhoods like Bregu i Diellit, IMPORTANT Nr.4: 00383(0)504-604-2997 the city- just like the rest of the Ottoman Empire programs of Serb colonialism, accompanied Dardania, and Ulpiana. The National Library of Fire Fighters NUMBERS Touristic Map of Prishtina Map of Touristic – marked the first influences of the European -ar with expropriation of Albanian properties. Sub- Kosovo, Rilindja, the Youth Palace, known as Boro 193 Bus Station chitecture. In 1874, Prishtina had its first train sequently, this resulted in exodus of Albanians and Ramiz, were also built during this time. This +381 38 550 011 station; which was built by the British. from Prishtina to Turkey, establishing there a mi- period of prosperity continued until 1989, when University and Clinical Centre of Kosovo +381 38 541 517 grant community that still lives there. dissolution of Yugoslavia brought new measures 00383(0) 500-600 +381 38 540 142 20th Century Prishtina fell under Italian occupation in 1941, for Kosovo’s status. Prishtina was liberated from the Ottoman oc- during Italy’s military campaign during World Emergency Clinic cupation in 1912 by the liberation forces led by War II, becoming part of the Italian-occupied Al- The 1990s and the Kosovo war Hasan Prishtina. Later that year, the city was oc- bania. Then, it was briefly occupied by Germany, Following suppression of Kosovo’s autonomy 00383(0) 500 094. cupied by the Serbian forces. In 1915, it fell under and after WWII, Kosovo became an autonomous in 1989, Albanian intellectuals formed the Kosovo PRN Youth and Sports Palace Grand Hotel National Library of Kosovo 16 Built in 1977. It has 10.000 18 It marks the city’s heart. 17 Was built in 1974 based on design by the Croat archi- GODDESS ON square meters. The Palace has two Designed by Bashkim Fehmiu and tect, Andrija Mutnjakovic. Architecturally, the Library’s sports courts, two congress halls, Dragan Kovacevic. Grand Hotel building is a combination of cubes and domes, and it a library, the mall, and under- is one of the key monuments of belong to the “new regionalism” architecture. In total, THE THRONE ground and open parking places. Prishtina and the most important there are 79 domes divided in segments that look like It was named “Boro and Ramiz” in mark of the 1980s architecture in brain and symbolise knowledge. The four-floored building honour of two Yugoslav partisans Kosovo. The initial plans depicted has 16.500 square meters; 13.500 square meters of Is the city’s symbol since and heroes, a Serb Boro Vukmiro- that the back terrace would have this building are usable. The Library has reading halls, 1999. The terracotta figu- vic and an Albanian, Ramiz Sadiku, been connected via a bridge with periodical’s hall, book preservation facilities, photo-lab, to promote the SFRY propagandis- the Youth and Sports Palace.