Novi Pazar

Novi Pazar is interesting as a typically Muslim town in South Serbia.. It is surrounded by some of most beautiful Orthodox monasteries. Its history is significant by this wedging between the two different religions, Orthodox and Muslim. Under the dynasty if Nemanjics the town of Ras and its fortress was the capital of the Serbian Empire spreading to Kotor at the Adriatic seaside. As at the beginning of the XIV century King Milutin enlarged his empire toward the South, Ras was not the capital any more and was known under the name Pazariste meaning commercial town. In the middle of the XV century Isa Beg Isakovic had founded here a Turkish fortress of Novi Pazar that became an important city for caravans placed on the commercial crossroads. In the XVII century Novi Pazar had been supplied by mosques, medresas, Turkish baths and other bazaars. But already in the XIX century the town declined and today it seems to be dozing.

THE MUSLIM TOWN: From the Turkish fortress that had been spreading on the hill dominating the town there remained just the parts of the walls and loopholes and a high octagonal tower. The mosque Alem Dzamija should be visited. It is on a square where there is a picturesque, typically oriental house from the beginning o the XX century. Finally on the central square a caravanserai with four buildings distributed on the sides of a vast courtyard.

THE MONASTERY DJURDJEVI STUPOVI: At leaving Novi Pazar toward Raska entirely to the left at the main crossroads turn to the left, then climb the hill about 3 km.. gradually there would appear Djurdjevi Stupovi, a monastery whose restoration has been taken by the persons in sorts and economy. On height of a hill and surrounded by a little forest, its medieval aspect give it a certain seal. A magnificent view from that place to the whole valley and the town of Novi Pazar . founded in 1168, then reconstructed in the XIII century by King Dragutin, it suffered a tragical destruction during the Balkan Wars 1912. there some frescos are to be seen, especially under the entrance arc damaged by bombings, but the chapel is still intact et, surrounded by a fortified trench and by the monastery apartments, it appears very nice on its height.

THE MONASTERY OF SOPOCANI: From the town centre of Novi Pazar, a well signed road leads after 7 km. to Sopocani. Founded in 1260 by the king Uros I, that church to be his mausoleum, the monastery represents a witness of the exceptional quality of the medieval Serbian art. Destroyed during the Austro-Turkish wars 1689, Sopocani was admirably restored in 1920s and then in 1950s. surrounded by a perfectly circular trench from XII century it approaches that of Studenica. Its architecture is typical fir the Raska School. A rectangular block of a single piece, of the length of 36 meters is continuing into a large abside and flanked on each side by a chapel. At the crossing of the aisle and the transept there is, and a donjon the summit of a high square tower. Finally, in front of the entrance to the exonerate added by Emperor Dusan in the XIV century a square belfry of three stories.

The external facades have not, like in Studenica, an important plastic decoration, but Sopocani has go some frescos being among the mist beautiful in the Orthodox world. On the narthex a picture show to us the death the mother of Uros I surrounded by her son and his spouse famous Helen d’Anjou. On the naos the splendid “Dream of the Virgin” where one sees her surrounded by Christ who receives her spirit in the form of a swaddled suckling. Entirely around the apostles, archangels and princes of the Church in an attitude of condolence so realistic that the painting here exceeds the strict religious framework. In the abside one could notice the “Communion of the Apostles” with a very strict and faithful representation of this celebration of the action of Christ by the fathers of the Church. The other compositions superbly organized and executed decorate the walls of the church, like “Descention into the Hell” or one more “Crucifixion” magnificently orchestrated.