One of the oldest examples of early Ottoman culture is Decorated Mosque in the city of Tetovo. Although Macedonia has plenty of Islamic monuments, this structure attracts particular attention by its unusual appearance. Bright walls are not typical for buildings of the 15th century and amaze the imagination to this day.

Decorated, Painted or Sarena Mosque was built in Tetovo in 1438. At that time, most of the religious sites in the Ottoman Empire were erected with the money of sultans and pashas. However, the mosque has a unique background: two sisters from Tetovo financed the construction. The patrons are buried not far from the mosque in specific mausoleums or, as they are called in Islamic culture, türbe.

Isak Bey became the architect of this project. The master created a true paradise: a fountain near the mosque, a hammam, greenery, and flowers in the nearby area. But the main dominant of the landscape is the square building itself. The walls are decorated with intricate, bright ornaments. According to legends, over 30 thousand chicken eggs were collected and added to the paint that adorned the mosque.

Another detail unusual for Ottoman architecture is the absence of a traditional outer dome. The reason for that is that the building is stylized to remind of the early Constantinople Ottoman culture.

In 1833 Abdurrahman Pasha rebuilt the mosque and updated the bright external decoration. The walls in the same classical Ottoman style appeared around Painted Mosque in 1991. In 2010, they refreshed the paintings again, and a year later, restored the facade.

The architectural monument is located in the old part of Tetovo near the Pena River. Tourists can come inside during breaks between services, but there is a clause: you have to take your shoes off at the entrance. Visiting the mosque is free.