Macedonia – the country of Alexander the Great and of multicultural nation
Macedonia is a small state in the south of the Balkans, the history of which was formed under the influence of several empires that prevailed here in ancient times, such as the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, also a significant imprint imposed during the communist regime in the recent past. Culture of Macedonia combines the important characteristics of Orthodox and Muslim religions, which also appears in the national music and folk poetry. Macedonia is rich in archeological areas and monuments of antiquity, which are often underestimated in terms of tourism.
Although Macedonia and is small in size, but across the country there are more than 30 cities and towns.
In the Middle Ages the country was dominated by Slavic architecture that is clearly expressed in a number of churches and monasteries, but also the large extent is visible of Byzantine architectural style. The Cathedral of St. Sophia and Samuel’s Fortress in Ohrid are magnificent examples of medieval architecture. The beginning of Ottoman domination appeared as the end of further development of medieval architecture. Although, to date, many of the buildings of the Ottoman period destroyed yet preserved some fine examples, such as a mosque or Tetovo or the old Ottoman town of Kratovo.
Find more information about interesting places, before going on an exciting journey to Macedonia!
There is no better word that characterizes the state capital of Skopje as multicultural. The city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1963, in which almost 75% of Skopje was destroyed. Even it retained some fine historical monuments, but Skopje of today has a much more modern style. One of the survived of the earthquake building was an old railway station, where the clock stopped at the moment of the disaster and till this shows the time of 5:17 am.
It is a well-known fact that the famous Mother Teresa was born and raised in Skopje, and her house in the city is open to the public and visit. Near her home is a memorial park that bears her name.
Cultural diversity of Skopje clearly expressed in the places of worship in the mosques, Byzantine churches and monasteries.
Strolling through the old town covers the feeling that time is stopped; Here bakeries are working at night, candy shops are open and from there comes the heady aroma of baking, and in cozy courtyards can be seen old men playing chess. All this creates an atmosphere of calm and relaxation, it is far from the stress and the frantic pace of modern times.
The enormous tourist potential of Macedonia is in the beauty of its landscapes. The magnificent mountains and unspoiled nature protected by three major national parks. Although the country has no outlet to the sea, but on the territory of Macedonia there are 34 peaks higher than 2,000 meters and more than 53 natural and artificial lakes, the largest of which is Lake in Ohrid.