Crown on the Ceiling

As one of the most important towns in Macedonia, Tetovo competes with Bitola for the status of the second only to the capital administrative, educational, economical and trade centre. Nested in the heart of the vast and fertile Polog Valley, Tetovo was mentioned throughout antiquity by different chroniclers. Those close to the rulers always noted when the valley was conquered or lost. Tit Livius, the celebrated Latin historian, described its value when Romans fought “Macedonian Wars”. In the Byzantine age the town was a Episcopal seat, and Anna Komnene, the writer-princess, recorded the Norman intrusion as well as the Serb conquest in the late eleventh century. Already then the density of the population in the valley was noted. The town grew and flourished during the Ottoman times when many stores and workshops were founded and new quarters were formed. People arrived from all over the valley attracted by the important secular and spiritual leaders who inhabited the town. They constructed several of Tetovo landmarks such as the Arabati Baba Tekke, the Tower of Fatime, the Painted Mosque, the Stone Bridge, and the Hamam. Read more …