Biography

Peja (Albanian: Pejë, pronounced [pɛˈjə]) or Peć (Serbian Cyrillic: Пећ pronounced [petɕ]) is the fourth most populous city of Kosovo, and the capital of the eponymous municipality and district. It is situated in the region of Rugova on the eastern section of the Prokletije along the Peja Bistrica in the western part of Kosovo. In medieval times the city, then commonly known under its Serbian name, was the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church in 1346. The Patriarchal monastery of Peć is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Medieval Monuments in Kosovo. Under Ottoman rule the city, then commonly known under the Turkish name İpek, became a district capital with mosques and civil architecture. From the end of the nineteenth century until today, the city has been the site of nationalist aspirations and claims for both ethnic Albanians and Serbs, often resulting in tense inter-ethnic relations and conflict. According to the 2011 census, the city of Peja has 48,962 inhabitants, while the municipality has 96,450 inhabitants. The municipality covers an area of 602 km2 (232 sq mi), including the city of Peja and 95 villages; it is divided into 28 territorial communities.