Macedonia is rightfully considered one of the most comfortable for resting countries in Europe in terms of the "price-quality" ratio of services provided at local resorts. Therefore, the flow of tourists does not weaken here, and there are always plenty of people who want to spend a vacation here or leave. Here you can both see the sights and have fun, and master the winter sports: in fact the ski resorts of Macedonia are adapted for this as well as possible. Let us consider in more detail which parts of the country should be set off for both beginners and experienced travelers.
The capital of Skopje
It is the capital of the country , which is in its northern part in the intermontane valley. In the middle of the village the Vardar River flows, and its length from west to east is about 20 km, while from north to south - only 1-2 km. In the old town, which surrounds the fortress of Calais , monuments of antiquity, picturesque narrow and intricate streets and architectural style of buildings, dating back to the times of the Ottoman Empire, deserve attention. In the New Town, the population is mostly Macedonians. Here you will meet more modern buildings, many restaurants, hotels and bars, you can wander through the busy shopping streets and visit a variety of cultural and entertainment centers. Be sure to take a look at the most interesting sights of Skopje. Among them:
- The monument to the victims of the earthquake, which happened in July 1969. It converted the building of the former railway station, whose clock forever stopped at around 5.17 - at this time the city was almost destroyed by the unraveling elements.
- Old city. It originated in the territory of the former bazaar, which was discovered in the 12th century. True, the buildings of those times are almost not preserved. However, now there are many stalls, cafes, shops, so it is an ideal place for shopping or gatherings for a cup of coffee.
- Stone bridge leading to the archaeological museum . It symbolizes the unity of the capital, uniting the two banks of the Vardar River. Especially beautiful excursions here are held in the evening, when the bridge is illuminated by hundreds of lights.
- Cross of the Millennium . It is considered to be the biggest cross in the world - its height is 66 m. The cross is erected on the mountain Krstovar, on which you can climb the cable car.
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In the city there is a huge selection of restaurants with Macedonian and European cuisine, as well as fast-food establishments and Chinese and Turkish cafes. For shopping, the longest street of Skopje, which starts at Stone Bridge and is stretched to the old railway station, fits perfectly. And between the opera house and the Stone Bridge there is a real paradise for book lovers - the book market.
Ohrid
This city is located near Skopje, south-west of the Macedonian capital, on the eastern coast of Ohrid Lake . It is called "Jerusalem in the Balkans", as Ohrid is a real treasury of archaeological remains of antiquity. Of particular interest are the ruins of the ancient theater , where the gladiators fought under the Roman Empire. The old city occupies the territory bounded by the fortress of King Samuel , the Church of St. Clement and the central pedestrian street of Sveti Kliment Ohridski.
Ohrid Lake is the true gem of Macedonia. Its depth in some places reaches 289 m, and the area is 358 sq. M. km. The coast of the lake is full of camping sites, hotels and sanatoria of varying degrees of comfort. The swimming season here is traditionally open from May to October. A national park is opened on the spurs of the Galichitsa Range, which descends to the lake, where you can see the local flora and fauna.
To the sights of Ohrid , worthy of attention, are:
- Monastery of St. Panteleimon in the territory of Plaoshnik . Once there was opened the first Slavic University and the oldest medical school in Europe. Here you can admire 800 icons painted in Byzantine style in the 11th-14th centuries and Byzantine murals.
- Church of St. Clement. It was built in 1295 and is considered the oldest in Ohrid. The church houses the relics of St. Clement, famous for the fact that he added several letters to the Greek alphabet, designed to express some sounds of the Slavonic language.
- Monastery of St. Naum , where he found eternal tranquility of the same name saint. According to legend, his relics continue to heal the sick.
- The Church of John Kaneo , which rises above a rocky cliff above the lake. Its adornment is the frescoes of the 13th century.
- Basilica of St. Sofia with priceless frescoes of the XI century.
- Archaeological museum in the palace of Robevo .
- Museum of icons. There are many rare icons in it, among them the creations of the Greek icon painters of the 14th century.
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In early July, the city becomes the venue for the festival of Balkan folk dances and songs, and in August the music festival "Ohrid summer" opens here, in which everyone can attend classical music concerts in St. Sophia's church.
Ski resorts
The glory of the ski resorts of Macedonia is fully justified. They offer a good level of service at fairly moderate prices. The main ones are:
- Popova Hat . It is located on the slopes of the Shar Planina peak a little west of Tetovo . The settlement has a developed infrastructure, so here its doors for visitors are plowed a lot of comfortable hotels. Popova Hat is at an altitude of 1780 m. The length of the ski runs is 80 km, and the width is 5 km. The ski season is open from November to March, when Ball Planina is covered with snow. Fans of active recreation will be delivered to the top of 6 chair lifts and funiculars.
- Krushevo . The resort is located 159 km from Skopje and 55 km from the city of Bitola . There are three tracks. In Krushevo there are three lifts: single, double and children's. In the village you can rent equipment, take the help of an instructor or give your child to a children's school, where professionals will teach him to ski. Getting to Krushevo is convenient from one of the international airports of Macedonia , located in Skopje.
- Mavrovo . This ski resort is located in the south of Macedonia, 70 km from the capital. The ski season is open from November to April. In Mavrovo there is an impressive number of trails - 18, of which three are for beginners, and five - for the average level. Some trails with chair lifts are equipped with artificial light sources, which makes it possible to use them around the clock. Also nearby is the Mavrovo National Park , considered the largest in Macedonia.
