If you’ve traveled around Europe, you’ve probably noticed how cities start to look alike after a while. European countries have interconnected histories, and their architecture and urban planning have followed similar patterns.
There is one region, however, that developed somewhat differently. Of course, we are talking about the Balkan Peninsula. Located in Southeast Europe, it was part of the Ottoman Empire for almost 500 years.
While the rest of Europe adopted geometrical urban grids with straight, wide streets, cities in the Balkans followed Ottoman urban planning, where streets were curvy and adapted to the terrain.
In architecture, houses in the Balkan Peninsula had much more modest façades with limited decoration. This reflects a different mentality, where the focus was on the interior courtyard rather than on displaying wealth.
Ottoman Residential Architecture
A typical Ottoman house is usually simple and uniform. Its ground floor is made of stone, while the upper floors are made of wood. The upper floors are usually painted white.
In many houses, the upper floors protrude from the façade, providing much-needed shade for passersby. This design also allowed residents to observe the street without being seen.
Unlike European houses, where rooms are separated by function, Ottoman houses often feature a multifunctional room called a sofa. It is located in the center of the house and provides access to all other rooms.
In the 18th and 19th centuries there was a strong influence from European Baroque and Rococo styles. However, this was mostly limited to Istanbul, while many Balkan cities remained deeply traditional.
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans. It has been an important city throughout history, and its many architectural landmarks are a testament to those times.
Most of Plovdiv’s Ottoman houses are located in the stunning Old Town. Unlike the majority of cities in the region, Plovdiv’s houses are painted in different colors and feature rich decoration. They are remnants of the so-called Bulgarian Revival period.
The houses in Plovdiv’s Old Town are large, colorful, and often have two upper floors. Perhaps the best-known example is the Kuyumdzhioglu House, which now serves as the Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum.
In Plovdiv, you can stay in several Ottoman houses. Our favorite is Hotel Evmolpia in the heart of the Old Town. The three-story house from the 19th century offers antique furniture alongside modern amenities.
Melnik
We discovered Melnik on our trip from Sofia to Thessaloniki. We were looking for a nice place to stop and spend a few days, and Melnik, Bulgaria’s smallest town, turned out to be perfect.
Melnik was an important town in the 17th and 18th centuries, producing wine and tobacco for the empire. Around 100 Ottoman houses from that period still exist. The most famous house in town is Kordopulov House, a mid-18th-century mansion and the largest Revival-period house in Bulgaria.
What makes Melnik truly special is how its historic architecture blends with the natural environment. The town is surrounded by unusual rock formations known as the Melnik Earth Pyramids.
Most hotels and guesthouses in Melnik are housed in recently built Ottoman-inspired buildings. We stayed at the impressive Manoleva House, located on a hill at the end of the town, which offers magnificent views of the surrounding landscape.
Ohrid
North Macedonia’s biggest tourist attraction, Ohrid, is another perfect blend of nature and architecture. In fact, the city’s natural and built environment are so remarkable that UNESCO included both on its list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
Ohrid was an important city during several historical periods. In the late 10th and early 11th centuries, it was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire and the seat of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became an important trading center, and most historical houses date from that period.
The charming Old Town lies north of Lake Ohrid and east of the ancient Samuel’s Fortress. The city was once very wealthy, and you can see that in the size of the houses (some even have four stories). The 19th-century Robevi House is the most impressive example.
Although there are many historic houses in Ohrid, none have been converted into hotels. However, many modern properties in the Old Town preserve the traditional atmosphere. Villa Varosh is probably the best option.
Berat
Every city or town on this list is unique, and Berat is no exception. What sets it apart is that it has not one, but three historic neighborhoods: Mangalem, Gorica, and Kalaja.
Berat is another ancient city with a rich history. Before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, it was the capital of the Muzaka Principality. During the 18th and 19th centuries it became a major craft center, and most houses date from that period.
Kalaja, or the Castle, is the most interesting neighborhood. It is a 13th-century fortress that contains Byzantine churches as well as Ottoman mosques and houses. The city’s most interesting house is located in the Mangalem neighborhood and now houses the Ethnographic Museum of Berat.
In Berat, you can actually stay in a historic house. We stayed at the wonderful Hotel Klea in the Kalaja neighborhood. We loved its authentic atmosphere, excellent hospitality, and fantastic restaurant.
Gjirokastër
Located about 20 km from the Adriatic coast, Gjirokastër is another historic gem from Albania that we absolutely love. Of all the cities on this list, its Old Town is probably the liveliest.
Gjirokastër is somewhat younger than the other places on this list. Although the city’s fortress dates from the 4th century, the city itself was first mentioned in the 14th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries it became a prosperous center for agriculture, woodworking, and leather production.
Gjirokastër’s Ottoman houses are unique for several reasons. They have distinctive slate roofs and can have as many as five floors. The grandest example is the early 19th-century Zekate House.
There are several historic hotels in Gjirokastër. Hotel Kalemi occupies a 200-year-old house with original ceilings and woodwork. Its rooms also offer some of the best views in town.
Makrinitsa and the Villages of Pelion
We saved the best for last. Although it’s difficult to say which place on this list is the most beautiful, to us Makrinitsa, and Greece as a whole, offers the best hospitality. And hospitality standards in the Balkans are already quite high.
Makrinitsa was founded in the early 13th century after the Fourth Crusade. During the 450 years of Ottoman rule, the village enjoyed a relatively high level of autonomy and thrived as a center for agriculture, leather processing, and silk production.
Makrinitsa is the most beautiful of Pelion’s 24 historic villages. It hosts an impressive number of Ottoman houses and offers some of the best views in Greece. A house you should not miss is the Topali Mansion, home to the Museum of Folk Art and History of Pelion.
In Makrinitsa, we stayed at the superb 1822 Makrinitsa Suites. We loved our spacious and tastefully decorated room, the breakfast was delicious, and the service was top-notch.
Other Nice Cities and Towns
Bulgaria is, without a doubt, the country with the most impressive Ottoman heritage in the Balkans. Other cities and towns with important Ottoman heritage include Veliko Tarnovo, Nessebar, and Koprivshtitsa.
Greece is another country with an abundance of Ottoman houses. You can find many interesting examples in the historic areas of Veria, Kavala, and Chania.
Other historic towns with a large number of Ottoman houses include Mostar in Bosnia and Krujë in Albania. Serbia and Romania, on the other hand, do not have a single city with significant Ottoman residential heritage.
In modern-day Turkey, there are many towns with similar architecture. The most famous is Safranbolu, but Beypazarı near Ankara and Cumalıkızık near Bursa are also outstanding examples.
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