Photo: Eraalickaj, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The exterior of one of Pristina's historic Ottoman homes can be seen near the Clock Tower. The Domaniku family, who migrated to Turkey in the early part of the 20th century, had build this palace in the 19th century. For many years, this building housed the Office of the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Kosovo, and it is now used by the Association of Political Prisoners.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Great Hamam, Thermelet a Hamamit
Founded in 15th century. It used to be part of the complex of the Sultan Murat Fatih Mosque and according to the legend, the construction workers who were hired to build Fatih Mosque were ordered by Sultan Mehmet II to take daily baths in the hammam. It had two symmetrical baths, one for women and the other one for men. The hammam is composed of 15 domes with small holes which are used to let the light penetrate in. A fire that occurred in 1994, resulted with an illegal opening of three shops which blocked the old entrance. Unfortunately, a hammam that once used to be a prestigious social venue for men and women, for many years looked abandoned with only few remaining walls full of rubbish, overgrown trees and wastewaters flowing inside of the building.
Sahat Kulla
It was built in the 19th century by Jashar Pasha. It served as a means of informing the town during the Ottoman Empire rule, in order to let people know when to pray as well as the traders closing their shops. The 26-meter-high hexagonal clock tower was made of sandstone and bricks. The original tower was burned in fire and its bricks were used for reconstruction. The authentic bell was brought from Moldova and had the inscription “This bell was produced in 1764 for Jon Moldova Rumenin”
Akademia e Shkencave dhe e Arteve e Kosovës (ASHAK)
Shadërvan
This is a marble fountain between the Carshi Mosque and the Museum of Kosovo and is a typical component of Ottoman architecture. The fountain is the only one remaining in the city from over fifty that once existed. In addition to providing a source of drinkable water, Shadërvan has been traditionally used for ritual ablution.
Muzeu Kombëtar
Closed for renovation since September 2024, this museum has a rich collection of prehistoric objects uncovered in Kosovo – most of them were spirited off to Serbia during the Kosovo war - and hundreds of archaeological finds and ethnographic items, some of which have yet to be returned. Goddess on the Throne is a symbol of Pristina and a must see.
17
Galeria 17 is in the old neighborhood of Pristina. With a distinct focus on social issues, artists and curators are invited to experiment with concepts, ideas and space. The gallery exhibits content that creates dialogue and fosters public debate while contributing to the documentation and creation of missing references throughout a process that archives and educates.