It is quite far from the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria to neighboring Macedonia, the path runs from east to west across the whole country. But Macedonia is worth it, having overcome any distance, to see it. Usually excursions from Bulgaria to Macedonia leave from the Black Sea resorts early in the morning, by lunchtime tourists arrive in Sofia, where they will have a sightseeing tour of the city, and in the evening they already enter the capital of the Republic of Macedonia - Skopje. The whole next day is devoted to the inspection of Skopje. By the end of the day - on the way back. The cost of such a tour is about 125 euros.
Skopje
Mount Vodno rises above the city, on top of which a 66-meter metal cross, called the Millennium Cross, was erected by the 2000th anniversary of Christianity. It can be seen far around, and at night, illuminated by hundreds of lamps, it seems to be burning right in the sky.
On the slopes of the mountain there are several villages, monasteries and ancient churches, the most famous of which is the Church of St. Panteleimon of the 12th century, one of the oldest monuments of Byzantine culture in the Balkans.
The main river of Macedonia, Vardar, flows through Skopje and divides it into two parts: the Old and New Towns. A huge area of Macedonia is located in the New Town. In its center there is a stone column, the top of which is crowned with a bronze sculpture of a warrior on horseback, very reminiscent of Alexander the Great riding on Bucephalus, and at the foot - 8 bronze soldiers of the Macedonian phalanx. The column is surrounded by bronze lions.
There are several other monuments on the square: to Tsar Samuel, generals and revolutionaries, and in front of the house-museum of Mother Teresa there is a monument to this holy woman.
Old city
From Macedonia Square to the Old Town, you can walk along the ancient Stone Bridge, which is considered one of the symbols of the city and is depicted on the flag of Skopje. It is believed that the bridge brings good luck to all who enter it with a pure heart.
All the main attractions of Skopje are concentrated in the Old Town, and most of them are located around the Old Market of Charsija. Since the XII century. it is the commercial center of the city, and although it is now recognized as a National Cultural Reserve, it continues to fulfill its main function. Here you can buy everything that oriental bazaars are famous for, from indescribably beautiful fabrics and jewelry to fruits and sweets.
Behind the market, on the hilly banks of the Vardar River, stands the ancient fortress of Kale - the pride of Macedonia. The fortress withstood enemy assaults and long sieges, was captured more than once, destroyed, and rebuilt again. Now it looks almost the same as it did 10 centuries ago.
Not far from the Old Market is one of the most beautiful monuments of medieval Muslim architecture - the Mustafa Pasha Mosque. It was built in the 15th century. at the expense of a devout Muslim, the commander of the Ottoman army, Mustafa Pasha. Colored ornament decorates the facade of the building, and the mosque is popularly called the Colored Mosque. The entrance to it is open to everyone, regardless of religion.
The National Art Gallery of Macedonia, which stores the richest collection of Byzantine painting, and many other valuable exhibits, is located in the former Turkish bath, Daut Pasha Hammam, an architectural monument of the 15th century. The bathhouse was built at the entrance to the Old Market by order of the Turkish commander Daut Pasha.
The clock tower Saat Kula, 40 m high, is especially loved by the townspeople because it is visible from everywhere and serves as a reference point, and the striking of its clock is heard throughout the city.
Also worth seeing in the old town
- Sultan Murad Mosque
- Church of St. Savior
- Caravan Saray Kurshumli Khan
- Museum of Macedonia
- Aqueduct
There is not enough time on the two-day excursion to see all the beauty of Macedonia, but enough to fall in love with it forever. You have to come here more than once and visit
- Doiran lake
- Radika gorge
- Ohrid lake
- Ohrid city
- Galichitsa National Park
- Stone town Kuklitsa
- Golem hail
And a lot of amazing things will be found in Macedon - the country of mountains and lakes, the keeper of the treasures of three cultures: ancient, Byzantine and Ottoman.
