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.
Dresden
The city of Dresden is the state capital of the Free State of Saxony and, with its population of over 500,000, is one of the medium-sized German cities. The history of the settlements dates back to the Stone Age, the city was founded in 1206. Today, Dresden is both the cultural and economic center of Saxony. The city has become famous through the Dresden Christstollen, which enjoys a great popularity during the Christmas season.
Dresden is famous for its sightseeing spots that attract a great number of tourists every year:
The Dresden Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady): The Dresden Frauenkirche is the symbol of the Saxon state capital and was built within 17 years and completed in 1743. In the Second World War the impressive church was almost completely destroyed by a huge fire. After the reconstruction, which lasted from 1994 to 2005, it now shines again in its new splendor and is a popular excursion destination of Dresden. Especially from the air-balloon over Saxony, the Frauenkirche looks particularly beautiful!
Dresden Residence Castle: The Dresden Residence Castle is one of the historical buildings of the city whose history dates back to the 14th century. Visitors can visit the Green Vault and the New Green Vault, where valuable art treasures are exhibited.
Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr: The Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr is one of the largest museums of the German military and was opened in 1877. Here, visitors can learn everything about German military history from its beginnings to modern days. Well-known exhibit is the Brandtaucher (Fire Diver), the first German submarine which Dreiller Wilhelm Bauer developed and built in 1850.
Ufa Crystal Palace: The Ufa Crystal Palace is a Cinema center in the city center, which has an extraordinary architectural design with a glass exterior facade. It is located in the Prague street and was opened in March 1998. The Cinema center has 8 cinemas with 2,700 seats for relaxation.
The Blue Miracle: The Blue Miracle is the Loschwitz Bridge and one of the most famous bridge structures in Dresden. The bridge was built in 1893 and connects the noble districts of Blasewitz and Loschwitz with a length of 280 meters.
The Transparent Factory: itis the production facility for Volkswagen's top-class car VW Phaeton. The publicly accessible Autowerk at the Großen Garten is home to the hotel and was opened in 2002. There is a restaurant and a bar for the culinary delights.
The Neue Kugelhaus is located directly at Dresden's main railway station and is an attractive shopping center in the form of a glass ball. There are over 30 shops on 4 floors, which offer a special shopping experience.
The Semper Opera House: The Semper Opera is the court and state opera of the Saxony, whose history dates back to the year 1841. Regular concerts and operettas are held there, including performances by well-known artists such as Richard Wagner.