Tetovo
Tetovo is a city in the northwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia, built on the foothills of Šar Mountain and divided by the Pena River. The municipality of Tetovo covers an area of 1,080 km2 at 468 meters above sea level, with a population of 52,915. The city of Tetovo is the seat of Tetovo Municipality.
Tetovo has been under many different empires; from the Mycenae and Illyrians, to the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans, giving the city a vast range of diverse cultures. Historically, Tetovo has been a nationalist center for Albanians, the more well known being Dervish Cara, Mustafa Ruhi Efendi, Tajar Tetova and Mehmet Pashë Dërralla. The museum of Tetovo, established in 1950, contains history of Tetovo and is situated in the Memorial House of Central Committee of the Communist Party of Macedonia.
Notable historical features from the Ottoman period in Tetovo are The Saat Mosque ("The Clock Mosque") as the name implies it used to have a clock in its minaret, and the Kumluk Mosque ("The Sandy Mosque"), an old mosque in the upper bazaar area of Tetovo. The name is derived from the reddish-yellow exterior of the mosque.
Popova Šapka is a ski resort located in the Šar Mountains. Despite being around seven kilometres (4.3 miles) from the city, it is generally associated with Tetovo. Popova Šapka attracts many tourists in winter due it being one of the popular ski resorts in the former Yugoslavia. Aside from hosting recreational and competitive skiing competitions, Popova Šapka has many villas and restaurants to accommodate visitors. The rise in hotels was because the cable car that took people from Tetovo to Popova Šapka was destroyed during the 2001 Macedonia conflict. Therefore, people stay at Popova Šapka overnight before returning to Tetovo.
Nuremberg
With its more than 500,000 inhabitants, the Bavarian city of Nuremberg is one of the largest cities in the state of Bavaria. It is home to the River Pegnitz, which flows through the city and then flows straight through the Old Town. The city was founded in the early Middle Ages around the year 1000 to 1040 and is therefore one of the oldest cities in Germany. It gained international popularity with the Nuremberg Christmas Market, which counts around two million visitors a year.
The sights of Nuremberg
The State Theater Nuremberg: The State Theater Nuremberg is the largest theater in the city and was founded in 1905. It is easy to see from a distance because of its axis. The operetta "Don Giovanni" by the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart belongs to the opera and itis on the list of regular theater performances.
The Toy Museum Nuremberg was founded in 1971 and is a historic patrician house from the 16th century. The visitors can learn about the cultural history of toys from ancient times to modern times.
St. Lorenz: The church of St. Lorenz was built in the Middle Ages and is named after the town patron, the Holy Lorenz, who watches over Nuremberg. The two double towers and the nine-meter wheel windows are the most striking features of the ecclesiastical structure. The sound that can be heard from the church is produced by 17 bells and three organs with 12,000 pipes.
The Beautiful Fountain: The Beautiful Fountain is part of the Historic Mile of Nuremberg and one of the most famous sights of the city. It is located next to the Town Hall on the Main market and due to its large eight rings is easy to spot. Two of the rings are rotatable and if you rotate one yourself, your wish will come true,as the legend has it.
The White Tower: The White Tower is the last gate tower of the former city fortress and is located on the Ludwigsplatz. In the vicinity of the tower is the Carousel of marriage, a beautiful fountain which consists of bronze figures, which tell about in various presentations the marriage life with all its ups and downs.
The Nuremberg Town Hall: The Nuremberg Town Hall is located in the Old town and is a baroque building. It was built in the 16th century and is open for tourists. The hole jails in the cellar of the town hall are especially worth seeing, where visitors can learn how the prisoners spent their time here.
The Nuremberg Castle: The Nuremberg Castle is the landmark of the city and includes the Kaiserburg and Burggrafenburg. The history of the castle dates back to the year 1105, when it was a temporary accommodation of the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. The visitor can have a nice view of the Old town of Nuremberg and learn about the emperors and kings during guided tours.
The Nuremberg Egg: The Nuremberg Egg is a 293-meter-high telecommunication tower, which has gained its name through a tower basket in the form of an ice. Since 1991, it has not been accessible to visitors, although a viewing platform and a restaurant had been built for this purpose.
Experience Nuremberg in a friendly way and combine the visit of the traditional Old town with the enjoyment of typical Franconian specialties in various pubs.