Djakovica

in Djakovica

ĐAKOVICA - located in the southwestern region of Kosovo and Metohija, this city is also the center of the municipality of the same name. Surrounded by the valleys of the rivers Ribnik, Beli Drim, Krena and Miruša, Đakovica is located in the lowest part of Metohija, surrounded by the high peaks of Koritnik, Prokletije and Pastrik. The origin of the name Đakovica is allegedly connected with a certain personality from the era of Vuk Branković - a certain Jacob, who was his vassal and had his estate here. From those days, a coin with his name "Iakov" has been preserved, from which the name Đakov and Đakovica were derived over time. According to reports, Đakovica became a settlement of the city team during the Middle Ages, thanks to its convenient geographical location, which was excellent for the development of trade and crafts. In the 19th century, as a city on both banks of the river, Đakovica supposedly had 12 well-fortified bridges. In 1485, when the Turkish census was collected, Đakovica was recorded as a place with a village populace and 67 households, of which, except for two possible Albanian surnames, all others were of Serbian origin. In the 16th century, there was a so-called The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which served as the metoh of the Dečani monastery, built by Stefan Uroš III of Dečani. Since then, we can follow the growth of this town since the end of the 16th century, when its oldest building, the Hadum-mosque, around which the rest of the settlement is said to have been built, was estimated. Other preserved buildings mostly date from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. In the same complex where the mosque is located, there is also a school, a small cemetery and a library. It is estimated that inns for travelers and merchants were added later within the existing complex, and within it there was also a Turkish bath that was demolished at some point. In 1955, the entire urban area of the bazaar was registered in the register of cultural monuments.