Priština << PRISH tih nah >> (pop. 145,149), also spelled Prishtina, is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It lies in the northeastern part of the country (see Kosovo [map]). Most of Priština’s residents are Albanians. Several historic mosques stand on Nazim Gafurri Street near the city’s center. Gërmia Park and Gračanica Monastery are in the outer areas of the municipality. Economic activities include communications, food processing, and trade. The city is home to the University of Pristhina.
Remains of the ancient Roman city of Ulpiana, founded in the A.D. 100’s, lie in southeastern Priština. The inhabitants of Ulpiana abandoned the city shortly after the Slavic tribes began arriving in the late 500’s. Priština was established around this time. The Ottoman Empire ruled the area from the mid-1400’s until 1912, when Serbia took control. In 1918, Serbia became part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes—later renamed Yugoslavia.
After World War II (1939-1945), many of Priština’s old buildings and cobblestone roads were replaced with new buildings and wide streets. In 1946, Priština became the capital of the self-governing region of Kosovo in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia. Kosovo later became a self-governing province in Serbia. But in 1989 and 1990, Serbia ended Kosovo’s self-rule.
In the 1990’s, Albanians in Kosovo began demanding independence for the province. Violence between Serbian forces and Kosovar Albanian rebels erupted in the late 1990’s. In 1999, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces bombed Serbian military targets in Priština and other cities to force Serbia to accept a peace plan. Most Serbs left Priština after the fighting. Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
