Macedonia is real El dorado regarding its archeological wealth. In the small
area that Macedonia covers, nearly 5000 archeological sites can be found! The
last finding that focused the public attention on itself, occurred last year
when 2 pieces of an ancient Macedonian combat-uniform made of gold (its value
was estimated around 5 million US dollars), had been excavated in South Macedonia.
Macedonia has always been known as Catena Mundi - the link between the worlds. All 3 main roads from the period of Antiquity passed the area of today’s Macedonia: Via Egnatia, The Diagonal Way and Via Axios. Influences from East and West, North and South brought here people from all the known Ancient World.
Macedonia is country of lakes, valleys and mountains. Flora and fauna exist apart from the urban living in many national parks among which the biggest is Mavrovo National Park more than 7700 hectares. Among the 50 lakes which are lying on the small but yet diverse area of the country, the Ohrid lake is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in the world, full of living fossils-trout and other species found nowhere else. The United Nations have placed both the lake and the town of Ohrid under protection as a world’s heritage.
Macedonian Art has played important role in the global Art throughout the centuries. In the early 12 century in Ohrid and in the village of Nerezi near Skopje the local painters have already set the principles of Pre-Renaissance, 140 years before the famous painter Giotto started the Renaissance painting in Ravenna, Italy.
The great architect of this millennium, Le Corbusier, by name of Charles -
Edouard Jeanneret, was internationally influential Swiss architect and city
planner who has established some of his architectural basics and principles
according to the typical Macedonian house. Popular architecture in the villages
of Western and Central Macedonia gave him a repertory of geometric forms and
taught him the handling of light and the use of landscape as an architectural
background. Le Corbusier came to Macedonia’s highest town Krushevo and was overwhelmed
by the style and charm of this (then) prosperous town. He drew and photographed
all of the old houses in this town and his sketches could now be found in the
museums in Macedonia and abroad.
After the disastrous earthquake in 1963, which wiped off the old Skopje the
architects from all over the world came up with their visions of the “new” Skopje.
The first impression one gets when visiting Skopje, the capital of Macedonia,
is invariably the same: it is a new and modern city. It lies on the upper course
of the Vardar River and is located on a major north - south Balkan route between
Belgrade and Athens. The town is spread on an area of 1,818 sq km and its population
numbers 563,301 inhabitants. As largest city in the country, it is a political,
economic, and cultural center of Macedonia. All state institutions have their
seats here and it is the major center of the countries industry and trade. Mostly
all activities in the fields of sport and culture take place in Skopje.
It is inevitably true that Skopje is a very old town. It is first mentioned under the name of Skupi in the Roman period. It was destroyed in 518 AD during an attack by barbarian tribes and a disastrous earthquake. Later, a new town erected a few kilometers from the old location and acquired its Slavic name Skopje.
Skopje Old Town is the most attractive part of the city. It dates from the
Ottoman Empire and consist some of the biggest historical monuments in Skopje.
The first thing that gets in the view when reaching the Old Town is the Skopje
old fortress, called Kale. It was raised in the 6-th century, but its present
appearance dates from the Turkish period.
Coming down from the Kale one can rest in the yard of the Church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas), where it’s unique iconostasis is executed in masterful woodcarving (18-19th centuries). There, in the yard, lies the sarcophagus with the body of the ideologist of the Macedonian national liberation movement, Goce Delcev. Following the old route of the merchants you can reach the Kurshumli-an from 1550. It was built of stone and served mainly as an inn for passing travelers and caravans. Also, in the Old Town, are be found the Chifte amam, Suli an (15th century) caravanserais, the Clock Tower (16th century), Mustafa Pasha mosque (15th century) and the Daut Pasha Amam (15th century), with its two large and eleven small domes, now housing the National Art Gallery. The Stone Bridge gives access to the Old Town from the city square. Built by the Turks on the site of a Roman bridge, the Stone Bridge has eleven arches and bears a plaque in the middle, stating that it was restored by Sultan Murat
Skopje is University city. The University “Ss. Cyril & Methodius” was founded in 1949. The first university on the Balkan peninsula and perhaps the first in Europe existed in Ohrid, Macedonia long time ago. Therefore, the importance that has been given to Skopje is not just because of the University, but as a seat of IUS (International Union of Students) can be understood in that context. Skopje is a home of the students from all over the world.
After the Second World War, Skopje experienced a rapid development. This trend
was halted by yet another devastating earthquake in 1963. Thanks to the world
solidarity, the city was quickly renewed and reconstructed. Today Skopje continues
to grow, becoming a beautiful and modern city.
You can reach Skopje by train, car or airplane. The Skopje Airport is the largest airport in Macedonia. The first train to arrive in Skopje departed from Salonica in the distant year of 1873.
