Šarena Mosque Mosque

Address: Šarena (Painted) Mosque, Tetovo, North Macedonia

Šarena Mosque is an Ottoman-era mosque in Tetovo, North Macedonia, widely referred to in English as the Painted Mosque because of its polychrome decoration. It is one of the town’s most recognisable religious buildings due to dense painted patterns on its exterior and interior surfaces.

The building is notable for richly coloured floral and geometric motifs that cover walls, columns and the minaret, making it distinctive among regional Ottoman-era mosques. The interior contains carved and painted details and traditional Ottoman decorative schemes.

The mosque was constructed during the Ottoman period and acquired its characteristic painted ornamentation during later decorative campaigns carried out under Ottoman influence. It has served as a local congregational mosque since its construction and remains in religious use.

The mosque stands in the old town area of Tetovo near the city’s historic bazaar and community centre, within the Tetovo municipality in northwestern North Macedonia.

The Šarena (Painted) Mosque is in the historic centre of Tetovo. It is a short walk from Tetovo’s main bus station and from the town’s central square; local minibuses/taxis also serve the old town area, and the mosque is reached on foot from nearby streets in the city centre.

• Go in the morning or between prayer times (avoid Friday midday) to view the mosque's painted exterior and rich interior decorations without disruption.
• Ask permission before photographing people inside and focus on the intricate painted surfaces and exterior façades, which are the mosque's defining feature.
• Combine the mosque visit with a stroll through Tetovo's nearby Ottoman-era streets-the surrounding architecture helps put the Šarena Mosque in context and is often overlooked.