Tetovo

West of Skopje lies the city of Tetovo, the largest Albanian city in Macedonia, with a population of over 50,000. It is home to two of the most important monuments from the Ottoman period.

The first is the 15th-century Painted Mosque, which features some of the most beautiful paintings in the Balkans, including a rare depiction of Mecca.

The second is the 16th-century Sufi center of the Bektashi order, known as the Arabati Baba Tekke. This large, green, walled complex includes traditional Bektashi buildings that are unique in both their artistic and architectural style. You can read more about it in my book Sufis in the Balkans.

North of Tetovo rise the impressive Šar Mountains, which separate Macedonia from Kosovo and reach a height of 2,800 meters. This range includes the Popova Šapka ski resort, one of the most popular winter destinations in the country.