day 2 Skopje.

Skopje Introduction

 

In its 2,500 years of existence, Macedonia's welcoming capital city has had many different incarnations. All of them from Roman to Byzantine, from Ottoman to Yugoslav have left indelible traces on the city, as is evidenced by Skopje's varied architecture and its mix of cultures. Yet in addition to its strong historical associations, Skopje is also a forward-looking city offering an abundance of modern amenities and attractions.

 

  

 

 

Here one can find sleek modern hotels above cobble stoned Ottoman streets, stately neoclassical homes right around the corner from grand old Yugoslav-era buildings, chic cafes, shopping malls and brightly new offices, red-bricked Byzantine churches and rounded Turkish mosques.

 

 

The concentrated complexity of Skopje today entices visitors, offering a great variety of things to see and do and constantly reminding of the city's storied past. Chief among sights to see are the Stone Bridge crossing the River Vardar, the Ottoman-era Old Town (Stara Charshija), and the Kale Fortress walls. In the meandering narrow streets of Stara Charshija one feels the spirit of the old city, with its little shops, mosques with their ceramic tiled interiors, and the outdoor bazaar and hamam that survive from Turkish times. A short climb up to the Kale Fortress is well rewarded; from this hilltop where Skopje's masters ruled for centuries one enjoys a commanding view of the city and its environs.

 

 

The world's best cities all contain at least one secluded natural escape. Skopje has two a long, tree-lined park along the river, and the forested hills of Mt. Vodno, which overlooks the city from the southwest and offers excellent hiking and wilderness serenity within walking distance of downtown Skopje. The summit of Mt. Vodno is also crowned by the enormous Millennium Cross that presides over the city. From here one gets even more magnificent views of Macedonia's capital. Macedonia's capital offers something to satisfy all modern tastes and appetites. It features brand-new cinemas, hotels and restaurants, as well as shopping malls offering all of the latest fashions, and usually at lower prices than in Western countries.

The city is a major regional center for concerts, theatrical performances, dance and sporting events, all of which frequently involve well-known stars from abroad, as well as the best in local talent .Skopje also boasts reliable public transportation and taxis, as well as a plethora of modern internet cafes for keeping in touch with the folks back home. And it is also one of the safest cities in Europe. Hotels operating to the highest standards are centrally located, the water is eminently drinkable and the food hearty and nourishing, with all international tastes represented- in addition to the excellent local cuisine, of course!

 

Skopje - History of the city

Apart from being the capital of the modern Republic of Macedonia, Skopje has always been a center of power long coveted by various empires.The city founded by the Dardanians in the 3rd century BC under the name of "Skupia" was prized for its strategic location, in a long valley between two hills, situated on the banks of the River Vardar, a vital trade route. Under the Romans, Skopje was made administrative center of the Dardanian Province. The city's prestige grew when the Orthodox Church made it an episcopal seat during the early Byzantine Empire.

 

The arrival of migrating Slavic tribes from the Carpathians in the 6th century AD changed both the city's name and the composition of its people, as the descendants of the ancient Macedonians were assimilated by the Slavic newcomers.

 

 

 

Throughout the remaining Byzantine centuries, Skopje continued to be an important mercantile center, situated as it was at the crossroads of Balkan trade and communications routes. It was celebrated for its urban life and fortress, and renowned for having the most beautiful church in the region.At the very end of the 14th century, Skopje and all of Macedonia fell under the sway of the Ottoman Turks. In the ensuing centuries, the look of the town changed with the construction of many mosques, Turkish baths, bridges and other buildings attesting to the new Oriental influence. Today, the Ottoman legacy remains visible in Skopje's architecture and Islamic minority.This latter tendency reached its apogee in 1963, when a disastrous earthquake leveled much of the regal old city.

After Macedonia was liberated from the Turks in the early 20th century, it became a republic of the Yugoslav Federation, with Skopje as the capital. At that time, the prosperous city boasted many ornate, Neoclassical buildings laid out harmoniously in a more or less Central European style. However, in 1963 a disastrous earthquake leveled much of the regal old city, and Skopje was reborn in the imaginative, futuristic style in vogue at the time. An international competition to redesign the city was won by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. His creations, such as the National Theater with its sloping roof of concrete, have shaped Skopje's modern skyline. To this day, the clock on the remaining wall of the old railway station remains stuck at 5:17- the moment when the earthquake hit.

 

Today, Skopje is a modern city of almost one million, and Macedonia's major political, economical, educational and cultural center It continues to attract new residents, economic development, construction and refurbishment. Skopje is also increasingly becoming a vital regional route for international flight operators. Optimism regarding Skopje's future prospects is proving infectious, as is evidenced by the upsurge of interest from major foreign investors. The city's growth can only add to its long and illustrious history of culture and commerce.

 

 

Museums of Macedonia

Macedonia's long and legendary history has been carefully preserved in its museums, the most important of which are in Skopje. The Archaeological Museum takes the visitor on a journey through the millennia, from the Neolithic Age, the Bronze and the Iron Ages, the Classical and the Hellenistic Periods, all the way through to the Roman, Slavic, Byzantine and Turkish periods.

 

 

The Historical Museum gives a chronological overview of Macedonian history through the centuries up to the National War of Liberation.The Ethnographic Museum has a substantial amount of items which are thematically displayed. Finally, the Museum of Natural History showcases many examples of the indigenous and sometimes odd flora and fauna found throughout Macedonia.

 

Apart from their permanent exhibitions, Macedonia's museums organize temporary exhibitions and other events, and feature gift shops where tourists can buy certified replicas of Macedonian icons, booklets and other souvenirs. In addition to the major museums found in Skopje, smaller museums and archives with their own unique collections can be found throughout Macedonia's other cities and towns. Permanent exhibitions: Archaeology: From the Paleolithic 10.000 BC to the 14th century AD History: From settling of Slavs 6th century AD to 1945 Ethnology: Exhibition of folk costumes, jewelry, traditional architecture, textiles, crafts, economy, customs and traditional musical instruments Art history Exhibition of fresco-replicas Lapidarium - Exhibition of stone monuments in Kusumli Inn Icon Gallery - Exhibition of icons from 14th - 19th century Opening hours: Work days 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Monday closed

 

The Church of St. Spas - Skopje

The Church of St. Spas, situated in Skopje's Old Town, is characterized by an unusual design: half of it was constructed underground, due to the 17th century edict of the Turkish Sultan that prohibited Christian structures from being higher than mosques. The church contains one of the most beautiful carved wooden icons in Macedonia, an early 19th century creation of the famous Mijak school of Macedonian wood carvers.

 

 

 

The founder of the Macedonian liberation movement of 1903 and its most prominent member, Goce Delcev, is buried in the courtyard of the church.

 

 

Skupi

The archaeological site of the Antique Roman city of Skupi is located 3 km (1.8 m) north of Skopje, near the villages of Bardovci and Zlokukani. First mentioned in the year 3 Bc and founded by the Dardanians, it quickly developed into an important regional center when the Romans made it the capital of their Dardanian Province.

 

With the creation of a Christian episcopacy a few centuries later, the city's economical and cultural importance grew yet again. A disastrous earthquake in 518 AD destroyed the city, but later a new town was built on top of the rubble, named Justiniana Prima after its founder, the famous Byzantine emperor Justinian.