The Republic of Macedonia is one of Europe’s best hidden
treasure. The county is part Balkan, part Mediterranean and has been heavily
influenced by Roman, Greek, Albanian, and Ottoman culture. It’s a stunning
natural paradise with grand historic sites and ruins tucked into idyllic
villages that haven’t seemed to change in centuries.
There you can find all that, plus fully modern cities.
Macedonia is a wonderful representation of the Balkans with a wide variety of
influences and ethnicities, modern cities and beautiful countryside, where life
moves at its own unique pace. Let’s have a look at the best places to visit in
Macedonia!
Skopje
The largest city and the capital of North Macedonia is
Skopje with a population of more than 600.000. Skopje is cultural, economic and
academic centre. In the Roman period it was known under the name Skupi. In
1392, the city was conquered by the Ottoman Turks who called the town Üsküp.
The town stayed under Turkish control for over 500 years, serving as the
capital of pashasanjak of Üsküp and later the Vilayet of Kosovo. At that time
the city was famous for its oriental architecture The city developed rapidly
after World War II, but this trend was interrupted in 1963 when it was hit by a
disastrous earthquake. In 1991, it became the capital city of an independent
North Macedonia. Skopje also is a very attractive tourist destination with its
fortress, cultural and historical monuments, archaeological sites, sport halls,
caves in the canyon of the River Treska and Lake Matka
What to visit in Skopje
The old bazaar ( date back to the 12th centry and
predominates Ottoman architecture. You can see Mustafa Pasha Mosque, Daut Pasha
Hammam, Kapan Han, Cifte Hammam…)
North Macedonia Square (the centre of the city, complete
with statues of national heroes)
Skopje fortress
Stone Bridge
The Millennial Cross
Memorial house of Mother Treresa
St. Spas Church
Monastery of St. Pantelejmon-Nerezi
Monastery of King Marko
Canyon Matka
Ohrid
The largest tourist centre in North Macedonia, known as
Jerusalem of the Balkans, is visited by thousands of tourists every year. In
1979, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as Cultural and Natural World Heritage
Sites by UNESCO. Ohrid was a centre of Slavic literacy, spirituality and
culture. Kliment and Naum, the two best - known disciples of the missionary
brothers Cyril and Methodious of Salonica with their arrival, Ohrid developed
into a leading centre of Slavic cultural and literary activity. Kliment spent
thirty years among the North Macedonia Slavs. The first Ohrid literary school
was founded at his monastery church of St. Pantalejmon in Ohrid, (built in
893). The 3500 pupils who came out of this school spread the Slavic script,
culture, art and church singing across several Slav lands as far as Kiev in
mediaeval Russia. By the end of the 9th century and beginning of 10the century
the Slavic literacy, spirituality and culture were founded. Ohrid has a
deserved place in the spreading of the Slavic spirituality in Europe and across
the world, especially in the process of evangelism of the Slavic Christian
East. Ohrid is also famous for Ohrid pearl which is his trademark. The
production of Ohrid pearl is a family secret tradition passed down one
generation to another. During the summer, Ohrid has a very rich nightlife. You
can attend on Ohrid festival enjoying the music of the world stars, or go to
the night clubs, bars, discotheques and cafe bars.
What to visit in Ohrid
Samuil’s Fortress
St. Naum Monastery
Museum on Water
Antique Theatre
St. Sofia Church (11th century)
St. Jovan Kaneo Church (13th century)
St. Mother of God Perivlepta (1295)
St. Pantelejmon - St. Kliment’s Monastery (9th century)
Gutenberg Workshop
National park Galichica
Bitola
”The city of consuls’’- Bitola is the second largest city in
North Macedonia, home to twelve consulates. It was known to the ancient world
as Heraclea Lyncestis, a city founded by Phillip II of North Macedonia (father
of Alexander the Great). Today, Bitola is real mix of old and new, where
Ottoman constructions and ancient ruins intermingle with modern office
buildings.
What to visit in Bitola
Shirok Sokak (pedestrian boulevard is lined with shops,
cafes, and restaurants. You can see the old North Macedonian and Ottoman style
houses.)
Clock-tower (The monument from 17th century. Legend says
that 60.000 eggs were collected from the households and mixed in the mortar to
make the building stronger)
Heraclea Lyncestis (an ancient city which include the Roman
theatre, Roman bath complex, small and large basilicas, floor mosaics…)
Congress of Manastir (an academic conference held in the
city of Manastir (Bitola) from November 14 to November 22, 1908, with the goal
of standardizing the Albanian alphabet.)
National park Pelister
The Tikvesh region
Veles, Kavadarci, Negotino, Demir Kapija are the cities
producers of the best North Macedonian wine. The vineyards in the Tikvesh
Region are spread on about 11.000 hectares. The wine is one of the symbols of
the North Macedonian land. The great secret of the beautiful taste of the North
Macedonian wines is in the sun, which in the Tikesh region gives a specific
taste to every grape. North Macedonia is one of the first European countries in
which the vineyard culture was nurtured. In the last ten years wine tourism In
North Macedonia has seen phenomenal growth. Host of the Tikves grape
picking-gathering is the city of Kavadarci, the biggest wine producer in North
Macedonia and one of the bigger in the Balkan Peninsula. This traditional and
tourist festival, forms part of a continuous, long and rich tradition that has
been maintained in this region from the antique period, when in honour of the
god of wine and grape, Dionysus, were held the ”Days of Dionysus’”
