Pristina is the world’s newest capital, a surprisingly cosmopolitan city with a youthful vibrancy amid landmarks recalling the rich ebb and flow of Balkan history.
Experience a city sweeping away its Yugoslav legacy in a rapid dash towards self-identity and modernity under post-war UN (now EU) administered reconstruction. The abundance of overseas workers allied to a multilingual returning Diaspora has created genuine cosmopolitanism. Visitors can spend Kosovo’s adopted Euro currency on Japanese sushi, modern European fine dining or simply chilling out in mood-lit nightclubs that wouldn’t look out of place in Berlin. Meanwhile, the ‘Stars and Stripes’ and flags of the EU and Albania fly proudly all over town.
Pristina’s compact city centre congeals the architectural imprints of millennia of ‘regime changes’ into a bite-sized day’s sightseeing. Explore the neo-brutalism of communist Yugoslavia’s fascination with concrete monoliths and an altogether more elegantly graceful Ottoman legacy. Recent reminders of resurgent Albanian-Kosovar nationalism are found in numerous flag-bearing statues and memoriam to wartime ‘martyrs’.
Locals boast Pristina’s abundant cafés serve the best macchiato in the region. Sipping coffee with them and enjoying the heartily fresh ingredients of Albanian cuisine is a window into the soul of Kosovar culture and hospitality. Join the summertime macchiato-fest when coffee-aficionados spill outdoors onto summery tables along the partially pedestrianised Nënë Tereza (Mother Theresa) Boulevard.
Ceaseless energy, lively avenues and squares, great shopping, cafe culture and buzzing nightlife make this vivacious, sophisticated Mediterranean city one of the most exciting in the world. Incredibly, it’s only 100 years old and celebrated its centenary in 2009.
The sheer dynamism and determination of the place makes Tel Aviv seem vastly bigger than it really is. In fact, the city is smaller in area than Haifa or Jerusalem, but almost one-half of Israel’s population live in the Greater Tel Aviv metropolitan area. For round-the-clock entertainment and sheer vigour, there are few cities to match it – Tel Aviv offers an abundance of bars, restaurants and entertainment within walking distance from one another.
Above all, Tel Aviv is a beach city. A broad expanse of fine sand extends more than 10km (6 miles) along the seashore. City residents pour onto the beach for air, space and relaxation every weekend and at any opportunity during the day.
Its wide promenade is a magnificent sight and runs all the way from the port leisure area in north Tel Aviv to the old quarter of Jaffa – a historic port-town in its own right, now a popular dining and leisure district of Tel Aviv.
At first glance, Tel Aviv may seem brash, but explore the city centre to discover elegantly restored pre-War Bauhaus architecture and world-class concert halls, theatre and museums. Those willing to look under the surface cannot fail to be moved by the idealism that has created the largest Jewish city ever to exist. In a short time, Tel Aviv absorbed tens of thousands of refugees from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America and turned them into free citizens in their own homeland – thousands more new immigrants settle here every year. Many bring exceptional talents and skills.
Tel Aviv was founded in 1909, when a small group of Jewish families moved from the overcrowded, insanitary and hostile Arab town of Jaffa to a selected desert spot where the construction of Tel Aviv began. The city took its name from the Hebrew title of Theodor Herzl’s inspirational Zionist novel Altneuland (Old New Land). The Hebrew title Tel Aviv combined the ideas of antiquity (tel, an ancient site) and radiant newness (aviv, springtime).