by: David Santana
David Santana (BA/MA NPTS ’25) travelled to the Balkans and had this to say about the regal beauty of the Painted Mosque in Tetovo, North Macedonia.
During our stay in North Macedonia, in the city of Tetovo, our group was able to visit and
admire the Šarena Džamija (Painted Mosque) in the predominantly Albanian-majority city of Tetovo. Once we were inside the mosque, I could not resist not taking photos of the gorgeous artwork of
the mosque’s interior; I have studied abroad before in Jordan and have visited other mosques in Istanbul,
like the Hagia Sophia, but this mosque was unique in that there were various artworks on the
walls and ceilings, which is uncommon for an ordinary mosque to have. This is why I felt like
these photos encapsulated the very special nature of this mosque (which was also funded by
the USAID when it came to refurbishing and recoloring it) due to its artwork within, but also
because it is situated in a city with a population that has been mostly ostracized and prejudiced
against by the majority, ethnic North Macedonians, so it behooved me to take photos of the
rich culture the Albanian Muslims had, but to also appreciate artwork in all its beauty.
I sincerely found this to be one of the best moments of the trip, and not least because I studied
Arabic in undergrad and was able to read the calligraphy.
