Monuments in Mitrovica

[1][2] There are many traces which have special interest and prove early civilization of the territory of Mitrovica, in particular from the Illyrian inhabitation in antiquity.

[citation needed] Zvečan Fortress is located in the north-west side of Mitrovica in a very strategic position.

It is one of the most ancient forts built on a high volcanic hill, at an altitude of 797 meters above sea level, and is considered to have extraordinary archaeological, architectural, historical and cultural heritage value.

The medieval fortress of Zvecan was built on the top of the remains of a fortification dating back to the 4th century AD.

The fortress has its beginnings in prehistory, with continuing development through Byzantine, Slav and Ottoman periods.

As a border fort of Grand Principality of Serbia, the site gained importance in 1093, when the Serbian ruler Vukan Vukanović, launched his conquest of Kosovo (then part of the Byzantine Empire) from there.

Part of the fortress was designated as one of the courts of the Serbian House of Nemanjić, and it was the place where Stefan Uroš III died in 1331.

In 1389, it was captured by the Ottoman Turks after the Battle of Kosovo, and it remained an active military site well into the 18th century, after which it was abandoned.

[5][6] The monastery was supposed to be the burial place of the king, but in 1389 the relics were transferred to Trepca and later in 1445 to Sofia, Bulgaria where they reside today.

[7] A major restoration of the monastery began in July 2003 and because of the earlier reconstructions the appearance has changed.

[clarification needed] It is a protected monument by the Republic of Kosovo with the status number 0301-551/90.

St. Peter's Church, a three nave basilica, is of particular interest because of its gothic architectural style and construction techniques, as well as for the Byzantine mural paintings, which decorate the interior.

Only the foundations in the western part remain, together with the east apse which is partially preserved up to the roof level.

[9][10] The Old City Hammam building in Mitrovica is representative of the Ottoman architecture in Kosovo.

[2] Xhafer Deva's house is a building with great architectural and cultural values, it was built in 1930 by Austrian architects and workers.

Representatives of the cultural heritage center in Mitrovica plan to restore the building at a cost of about 150,000 euros, after which the cultural heritage center of Mitrovica will be based there, some rooms will turn to a museum for Xhafer Deva and his family, and the municipality will have rooms to host international guests.

[17][18] The smelter was built in 1938 by a British firm Selection Trust Ltd.[7] This is the most significant monument in the city.

The monument was dedicated to the miners of the city (Albanian and Serbian partisans), who lost their lives during World War II.

It was designed to represent the overcoming of national divisions between Albanians and Serbs and to bear witness to the peaceful coexistence between the two communities in post-war Yugoslavia.