Serbia: Novi Pazar

My first contact with Novi Pazar was the run-down, almost destroyed, and smelly toilet at the bus station... and my first thought was "Where the hell am I?..."

Then as I was walking the town to find a place to sleep, I saw some bizarre golden arches: Mr Donald's replaces McDonald's there. I didn't taste their burgers, but I'm sure they taste better than the ones that inspired them.

I found two other hotels in Novi Pazar:
A 4-star business hotel that was too expensive for me, and the comfortable and family-run Hotel Kan.

The rooms are small, but the staff was very friendy, even if they didn't speak much english.

A traffic policeman showed me the location of this hotel, as he saw me reading my Lonely Planet Guide in search for directions. The policeman spoke little English, but he was very kind.

The next day I saw him twice while walking in Novi Pazar. It's really a funny feeling to say hello to someone you know in the streets of a city you've never been before...

Novi Pazar Page on Visit-serbia.com.

This is the hammam of Novi Pazar. It is located on Stara pijaca (the old market), in the vicinity of the Altun Alem Mosque.
It's construction began in the 15th century with Isa-bey Ishakovich. In the 18 th century, rooms with a fountain were built on the north side.
The hammam is divided into two almost symmetrical parts for men and women.

Little is known about the Arap Mosque. It was first mentioned in 1528 but ot's probably older, actually it might well be one of the oldest buildings in Novi Pazar.
A fire devasted the building in 1689but it was later restored.

This picture was taken from the ruins of the Turkish Fortress, which today is a walled mound housing a park.

Altun Alem Mosque is the oldest in Novi Pazar. Architecturally, it has single dome and a porch covered with two domes.

It is located at the end of Stara caršija (The Old Street). Beside the mosque there's an old maktab (islamic religious elementary school) but recently (and illegally) a medrasah (islamic religious university).

Lejlek Mosque is one of the oldest in Novi Pazar, dating from 1460.

Most of today's comes from the Ottoman era. But Novi Pazar stands on a multilayer archaeological site discovered by British Archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in 1883.
The site has only been partly investigated but it includes grave mounds from the Bronze period and the remains chapels, shrines and basilicas dating from 2nd to the 6th century.

Continue the visit of Novi Pazar with the Church of St Peter.