Low­-cost airline "Wizz Air" will introduce flights from Skopje to Malta, Rome and Vaxjo (Sweden) on July 14-16, in parallel with adding one more aircraft to the Skopje airport fleet.

Wizz Air also marks the 3­-million mark in the number of passengers from and to Macedonia with a 20-­percent discount on Tuesday's bookings for flights from Skopje to any of 27 destinations.

"Addition of the fourth aircraft to the Skopje base, the three new destinations and the increased frequency on existing flights means more jobs in Macedonia and Wizz Air, but also our business partners. This will also provide an incentive to the tourism and hospitality industries and enhance business relations in Macedonia", said Owain Jones, Wizz Air Chief Corporate Officer, at today's promotion.

Minister of Transport and Communications Vlado Misajlovski stressed the government is continually implementing successful policies in the airline sector, which yield concrete results. "Since 2012, the government's financial support has resulted in the introduction of 28 flights to European cities, transporting more than half of the passengers using Macedonian airports. I expect the number of increase following the launch of the three new destinations", said Misajlovski. Alper Ersoy, general manager of airports' concessionaire TAV Macedonia, expects huge interest for the new flights. "These three destinations, along with the already announced flight to Budapest launching on April 2, are truly attractive at the market. This is a result of our continual marketing­-studies and activities", added Ersoy. Wizz Air operates 29 flights to 13 countries from the Skopje and Ohrid airports.

Macedonia is to present its tourist offer for the first time at the Scandinavia’s largest holiday fair – Danish Travel Show in the next three days.

Danish Travel Show occupies no less than 13 exhibition halls with over 1,100 exhibitors and 61,885 visitors. Agency for Tourism promoted nature and active tourism in Macedonia thus attracting great interest, Agency for Promotion and Support of Tourism said in a press release.

Fifty-one different countries exhibited at the show whereat Macedonia’s delegation held contacts with major tour operators for Denmark and Scandinavia – Sunweb, Appolo, Detur, Beach Tours, Suntur, TUI Denmark and Bravo Turs. Some of them announce to visit Macedonia and to include our country in their travel brochures.

It was 25 years ago today that Macedonia celebrated independence from the failed state of Yugoslavia. To mark the occasion, here are 25 things you did not know about the Balkan country.

1. That’s the 'Republic of Macedonia' to you

The country has had some controversy around its name, with Greece also laying claim to the title of Macedonia for one of its northern regions, much of which fell within the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. The dispute is still a hot potato, which is why Macedonia is officially known as the Republic of Macedonia and sometimes referred to as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – or FYROM for short – though some Macedonians find this offensive.

2. It’s high

There are more than 50 lakes and 34 mountains higher than 2,000 metres. It has the fifth highest average elevation of any country in Europe (741m), behind Andorra (highest), Switzerland, Austria and Turkey.

3. And old

Without being drawn on where Greece begins and Macedonia ends, the ancient kingdom of Macedon dates back to 808BC and was ruled mostly by the founding dynasty of the Argeads, though modern-day Macedonia most closely relates to the ancient kingdom of Paeonia, north of the kingdom of Macedonia. Skopje, the capital, is said to be seven thousand years old.

4. So old in fact, that...

There are said to be parts of the cross on which Jesus was crucified in the foundations of three monasteries in the country – St Bogodorica Prechista in Kichevo and St Jovan Bigorski and St Georgij Pobedonosec in Debar. Across the country there are nearly 1,000 churches and monasteries, while the city of Ohrid was once notable for having 365 churches, one for each day of the year. It has been accordingly nicknamed the Jerusalem of the Balkans.

5. But it has just one Unesco site

Ohrid is the country’s only Unesco World Heritage site. The city and its lake (Lake Ohrid) are counted as both cultural and natural inclusions, one of only 28 sites around the world to be marked as both.

6. NASA is a fan

Kokino, to the north of the country, is one of the world’s oldest observatories, as recognised by NASA and dating back to the 19th century BC. It is inscribed on a Unesco “tentative” list of protection.

7. It has a saintly daughter...

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, recently made a saint by Pope Francis, was born in Skopje in 1910, though she was Albanian by ethnicity at the time of her birth. Today, there is both a statue of her and museum dedicated to her life.

8. ...and a great son

Alexander the Great, the once-king of the Kingdom of Macedonia was the world’s first conqueror, who extended an empire across Greece and Persia to India and Egypt. On an awkward note, his legacy is also claimed by Greece, which is why…

9. This giant statue is slightly mysterious

The hugely controversial statue in Skopje's central square is officially named 'Warrior on a Horse' though most observers believe it is meant to depict Alexander the Great. Whatever it is called, it is monumental at 28 metres (92-foot) high, weighing 30 tons and costing an estimated €9.4 million. And it is hard not to feel its size is disproportionate.

10. It has its own St Tropez

“Trpejca, a small sleepy town on the banks of Lake Ohrid, is known as the St Tropez of Macedonia,” writes Telegraph Travel’s Adrian Bridge, who visited in July. “God knows why, but it is very pretty.”

11. And prides itself on its peacocks

At the southern tip of Lake Ohrid, the St Naum Monastery visited by Adrian on his trip, which dates back to 910AD, also had the unexpected bonus of a pride of peacocks roaming the grounds.

12. It has a country within

“The village of Vevčani high in the hills to the north of Lake Ohrid is famous for its springs, its appeal to artists - and for the fact that briefly following the break-up of Yugoslavia it declared itself the independent Republic of Vevčani,” writes Adrian. “The village - population 2,500 - still likes to think of itself as a separate entity, with its own passports and currency. And if you drink enough Vevčani wine, you can become an honorary citizen.”

13. Macedonia Two Flags

That’s what the other European states call it in the playground. The country’s current flag has been in use since 1995 and displays a golden yellow sun with eight rays extending to the edges, but in 1992-1995 a smaller sun occupied only the centre of the fabric. It will be of little surprise to learn that the flag change came about due to the usage of a symbol, the Vergina Sun, that annoyed the Greeks, as they claimed it was historically Greek.

14. It kept the peace

Macedonia was one of the only countries during the break up of Yugoslavia to remain at peace throughout.

15. No need for a visa

British passport holders do not need a visa to visit (for up to three months). The Foreign Office says that most visits to the country are trouble-free.  

16. Its capital has been shaken up

Capital Skopje has been hit by at least two devastating earthquakes in its history, the most recent of which was in 1963. The magnitude 6.1 quake destroyed 80 per cent of the city and killed more than 1,070 people.

17. It boasts cave behemoths

Cave Peshna is said to have one of the biggest entries in the Balkan region and resemble Helm's Deep from Lord of the Rings.

18. And a gigantic cross

Skopje is home to the world’s fifth biggest cross, in the 66-metre high Millennium Cross, built to mark 2,000 years of Christianity in Macedonia. It sits atop Vodno Mountain in the city and can be reached by cable car.

19. Poets love to hang out there

Struga is the site of the annual Struga Poetry Evenings where, since 1961, one of the world’s largest gatherings of poets takes place each year. Its own award, the Golden Wreath, has been bestowed upon the likes of W H Auden, Ted Hughes and Allen Ginsberg.

20. It has its own Elvis Presley

Toše Proeski, dubbed the “Elvis Presley of the Balkans”, was one of the region's most successful pop stars. He was killed at the age of 26 in a car crash in Croatia, but his spirit lives on in his home town of Kruševo, still visited today by his fans.

21. And a wedding party of sorts

This bizarre array of stones is said by legend to be a petrified wedding party – formed some 50,000 years ago. Found in Kuklici near the city of Kratovo, one can make out (at a push) the bride, the groom, the best man and the maid of honour.

22. The Ottomans left behind some pretty neat history

Thanks to its membership of the Ottoman Empire from the 14th century, there are a number of remarkable mosques, including the multi-coloured Painted Mosque, built in 1495 and said to be one of the most resplendent specimens of Islamic architecture in the world.

23. It has three national parks

Macedonia boasts three national parks, of which Mavrovo is the largest. It was founded in 1949 and takes in the artificial Lake Mavrovo, as well as the highest mountain peaks in the country, allowing for skiing and snowboarding in the winter. “Mavrovo’s impressive forests contain more than 100 rare species of trees, and its rugged hilltops are rich in wild herbs and teas that can be easily collected by hand,” says the tourist board.

24. Football’s alright...

But handball is where it’s at for Macedonian sports fans (NB. not actually as popular as football). In 2002 Skopje’s Kometal team won the EHF Women’s Champions League European Cup. The national team is still yet to qualify for an Olympics, but apparently it's real popular. 

25. No one knows what flavour its national drink is

The Macedonian cuisine, owing to its geographical position, is inspired by Mediterranean, Turkish, and to a lesser extent, Italian, German and Eastern European. Tavče gravče, a multi-beaned stew, is seen as the national dish, while mastika, a liqueur seasoned with mastic, otherwise known as “Arabic gum” is its national drink.

SOURCE

Strumica kicks off its eight day long carnival.

On the opening evening, children paraded under masks, and two of them were elected the prince and princess.

"We are very happy with the turnout as well as by how creative the masks were.

The children and their parents showed us that Strumica literally lives for this carnival", said organizer Meri Janceva.

On Thursday, a traditional masked concert is on the agenda, as well as the opening of an exhibition of photographs from last year's event.

On Friday evening the adult prince and princess will be elected at a ball in hotel Sirius, and they will lead the parade on Saturday.

Sunday will include another carnival for children and on Monday there will be a gathering in the main city square and an opening of an exhibition of cartoons and jokes.

The carnival closes on March 1st with a concert by the Trimeri ensemble.

To lay down standards and to establish conditions recognizing the profession of tour guide as a self-employment opportunity solely by investing in one's self through quality education, it was concluded Tuesday at a promotion of the first digital registry of qualified tour guides in Macedonia.

Tour guides, their representatives said, are considered ambassadors through whom a country is presented to foreign tourists. At the same time, tour guides are deemed the most vulnerable category in the tourism industry.

Latest surveys show that nearly 65% of the impressions from tours are a direct result of the quality of a tourist guide.

"Authentic presentation of cultural heritage and history must be protected. At the same time, the young people who are studying to become tour guides must invest in themselves and find ways to be self-employed," noted Branko Bosilkov of the Association of Tourist Guides.

There are 790 licensed tourist guides in Macedonia, but not all of them are full-time guides.

One of the most vulnerable links in the tourism industry are in fact tour guides, according to Elena Ivanova.

"On the other hand, tour guides are one of the most vital links in the chain of tourism having a serious impact on the impression of tourists," said the manager of the tourism sector at the Swiss programme on Increasing Market Employability (IME), which has supported the publishing of the registry.

The promotion of the first digital registry of qualified tourist guides in Macedonia was held on International Tourist Guide Day.

The publication encompasses all licensed tourist guides in Macedonia with the purpose to connect tour guides and travel agencies and to make the profession more dignified.

Text taken from Lonely Planet

Macedonians will proudly reel off to visitors that Ohrid once had 365 churches – one for every day of the year. Yet in truth, the church spires and their bellowing bells are just one facet of this lakeside diamond, which lures city-dwelling locals for summer hijinks and Balkans backpackers gasping for a splash of water in a landlocked country.

Although Ohrid town is the beating heart of the lake, the area’s charms extend well beyond its beloved old quarter. At 300m deep, 34km long and three million years old, Lake Ohrid is among Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes. Surrounding its shores, ancient settlements, mountain villages and glorious monasteries whisper stories that have endured more than a thousand years. No trip here would be complete without some out-of-town exploration.

Friday

Spend the morning climbing and tumbling back down Ohrid’s cobbled lanes. This town was made for strolling, and most streets gravitate back to the water. As you explore, take notice of the delightful ‘mini-me’ street lights, which mimic the town’s distinctive traditional houses. Also look out for its one-of-a-kind pearl shops, particularly Antica (ohridpearl.com) on Kosta Abras. Ohrid’s unique simulant of the gem is created using the scales of a fish endemic to the lake.

Morning is the best time to catch the unusual bolnička (hospital) churches with their doors open. These low-lying, high-walled adjacent structures are thought to date from the 14th century and barely look like churches at all, though their insides are heaving with frescoes and icon figures. A grim fact, given how petite they are, is that the churches were used as quarantine facilities in times of plague.

Grab your swimwear before heading out for lunch in Kaneo, a traditional fishing village that has long since been swallowed whole by Ohrid’s old town boundaries. Work up an appetite by tackling the gorgeous water-licking boardwalk en route; its start is hidden down an alley behind the Sveta Sofija cathedral, like a door to beachside Narnia. Take a dip or grab a deckchair along the shingle beach, but when hunger calls head to Letna Bavča Kaneo and order a dish of diminutive fried plasnica, the selfsame fish that’s used to make Ohrid’s famous pearls. Locals eat them whole – like whitebait, but meatier.

After lunch, make the westerly ascent up to Ohrid’s pin-up Church of Sveti Jovan to contemplate the view and admire the frescoed interior (dress respectfully). Continue up to Plaošnik, where the pretty Church of Sveti Kliment i Pantelejmon plays second fiddle to some remarkable 5th-century basilica ruins and a garden of mosaic relics. Church-hopping sated, return to Kaneo for a quick boat ride back to Ohrid’s harbour area.

In the evening follow the Europop sounds to the small crowd of lake-lapping bars on Kosta Abras: Liquid is undoubtedly the classiest of the pack, perfect for sunset drinks and beyond with the style-hunters of Macedonia. If this feels too try-hard, make for prohibition-style Jazz Inn (en-gb.facebook.com) down a nearby back alley instead. During Ohrid’s extremely popular Summer Festival, seemingly the whole country descends to catch a concert at one of the historic venues around town – join them at Ohrid’s Hellenistic hillside amphitheatre, if you can.

Saturday

Hop on a morning bus headed for Sveti Naum Monastery – your ultimate destination – but ask to be let off at the Bay of Bones for some time travel at the Museum on Water. This remarkable place is a reconstruction of a prehistoric pile settlement, the remains of which have been uncovered at the bottom of the lake beneath the site. If this has your interest piqued, Diving Center Amfora (amfora.com.mk) can take you down below (beginners welcome) to sniff out relics on the lake bed.

Continuing south, Sveti Naum is surrounded by some of the lake’s sandiest beachfront and one of the best swimming areas. Consequently, the monastery site slightly unexpectedly pits holy reverence against deckchairs and buzzing summer beach cafes. But – dare we say it – that’s what makes it such a fun day out. The church itself is a multi-domed Byzantine goody with a 17th-century iconostasis, 16th- and 19th-century frescoes and some (slightly cranky) guardian peacocks. Outside, boatmen run trips to irrepressible natural springs bubbling up from the nearby lake bed. Restaurant Ostrovo (restoranostrovo.com.mk), within the complex, is right by the entrance to the springs and offers the wistful experience of dining on a moored pontoon.

Boats return to Ohrid directly from the monastery at 4pm. Travelling by car? You’re in luck: the coastal road back to Ohrid is ripe for exploration. The hidden bar at Orevche beach, down a snaking shrubby coastal trail off the road (look for the sign), is a real find. Take another dip accompanied by prowling petite fish, grab a day bed for sunset with the local Zlaten Dab beer and feel a bit smug that you’ve managed to escape the crowds.

Sunday

Crowned by the walkable Magaro peak (2254m), the shaggy mane of Galičica National Park unfurls east of Lake Ohrid, putting mountainous villages and hiking trails within half an hour’s touch of Ohrid town. Here it’s possible to cast yourself adrift by paraglide – the biggest adrenaline rush you’re likely to get on a lake with no water sports. Or you can visit a lake-view Galičica village for lunch or a sunset dinner of Macedonian specialities such as pita (a flaky coiled pastry stuffed with cheese and spinach) and tavče gravče (spiced baked beans served in earthenware). Book through Free Pass Ohrid (freepassohrid.mk).

Food is one of Macedonia’s crowning glories, but if you want to taste traditional cuisine there are better places than Ohrid’s old town: how about a secluded mountain village famed for its homemade sausage, nettle pies and slow-roasted meats? Welcome to Vevčani – an underrated rural bolthole north of the lake where locals quietly disappear to eat and stroll amid gurgling springs. Packed with creaking historic country houses, home to a rambunctious annual carnival (exploringmacedonia.com/vevcani-carnival) and watched over by a pretty church, it’s a window into a very different side of life around the lake. Eat at wood-beamed Kutmichevica (kutmicevica.com.mk) in the upper part of the village, from where sublime views enable you to survey Lake Ohrid one last time before you travel home.

Make it happen

Lake Ohrid’s St Paul the Apostle Airport, 10km north of Ohrid town, is handling a growing number of international flights, particularly from the UK. The town is also well served by frequent daily buses from the capital Skopje, and daily international buses to Albania, Serbia and Montenegro. Of all Ohrid’s old town hotels, Villa Jovan has the most character and the best location. No matter where you stay, book well ahead for travel during the Summer Festival (12 July to 20 August).

SOURCE: Lonely Planet

Qatar Airways has officially confirmed that the Skopje-Doha flight will be launched on 17 July, said Minister of Transport and Communications Vlado Misajlovski on Monday.

“The airline has informed us it will start procedures over obtaining flight permits, whereas the first Skopje-Doha flight will be introduced on 17 July. This global airline will offer new possibilities for Macedonian citizens and direct flights to the Middle East”, said Misajlovski at today’s press conference.

He added that air traffic in Macedonia has achieved progress in recent years, both in number of passengers and new destinations.

“We completed 2016 with a record number of 1,8 million passengers at the Skopje and Ohrid airports. Today, we have over 30 destinations, 25 of which operated by low-cost airlines. We remain on the same course of attracting new airlines that will offer fresh destinations at accessible ticket prices”, said Misajlovski.

Skopje in Macedonia is possibly probably the most underrated metropolitan areas within the Balkans. Having a shiny new airport terminal and growing quantity of budget air carriers touching lower there, it’s a fantastic choice for an inexpensive saturday and sunday or starting off a complete-fledged search for Macedonia and it is surrounding nations, much like Used to do. There’s remarkably a great deal to do for individuals thinking about things like history, absurd architecture, Ottoman artefacts, and great night life.

Despite the fact that there’s a great deal of Socialist architecture and concrete (the town needed to be almost entirely reconstructed after 80% from it was destroyed with a 6.9 earthquake in 1963), Skopje in Macedonia is really a still an incredible mixture of Islamic and Christian culture. Mosques, places of worship, hammans and monuments to saints can be based in the city center, as well as Stara Charshija, the biggest bazaar within the Balkans outdoors Istanbul. A couple of other sights would be the recently reconstructed Macedonia Square, the Stone Bridge which goes back towards the sixth Century, Kale Fortress (though at the moment you cannot enter), along with a museum devoted to Mother Teresa, certainly one of Skopje’s most well-known natives.

Places to stay: Shanti Hostel and Shanti Hostel 2 truly grew to become my ‘home from home’ in Skopje. The 2 are actually nearby from each other in an exceedingly location. Rooms were very clean and they’ve all of the amenities you might need – free breakfast, strong Wi-fi compatability, laundry, cozy common areas, and awesome patios to relax. The proprietors and staff counseled me using this world and never only ensured everybody was comfortable, but additionally that people counseled me getting an excellent amount of time in Skopje.

That Old Bazaar neighbourhood of Skopje, referred to as Carsija, continues to be occupied for nearly 3, 000 years, and it has been an essential center for trade within the last 1000 years approximately! Most people presently residing in this neighourhood are ethnic Albanians, so there’s a multicultural..

If you wish to escape a realistic look at Skopje for any quick moment, go to the Fortress Kale. It’s situated conspicuously on the hill within the old a part of Skopje, over the Stone Bridge. Besides a fascinating fortress, it provides a great view within the town of Skopje. The ramp was partially built of gemstones from..

The Macedonian rail network radiates from Skopje with all of services departing and terminating came from here. The station was built-in the 1970’s (changing the previous station destroyed within the 1963 earthquake) included in the city’s combined “Transportation Centre” and thus shares its site using the primary bus station.

This really is simple to find, being situated in regards to a km southwest in the city center, and also the elevated platforms, using their fuselage-like superstructure, allow it to be instantly recognisable.

At 1,200 meters above sea level over the karst countryside in village Kodzadzik (Коџаџик) in Municipality Centar Zupa (Центар Жупа), were found the foundations of the family house of great Turkish reformer and statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, on basis of which in 2009 began reconstruction of the memorial building.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk grandfather on his father's side  - Hafız Ahmet Efendi, was from Kocacık Yörüks (a nomadic shepherd tribe from Anatolia) that had come from Konya and Aydın and settled at Kocacık in Macedonia in the XIV - XV cent. 

Hafız Ahmet Efendi settled in “Tshli Maala” (Ташли Маала, Tashli neighborhood) which means “stone neighborhood”.

House of Ataturk's family, according its volume and characteristics, differed from all other houses in Tashli neighborhood. It was the largest and most beautiful, which indicates that Ataturk originated from rich family. According to architect-conservator Djurdjica Lekovska (Ѓурѓица Лековска) from National Conservation Centre (Националниот конзерваторски центар) , the remains of these houses have been preserved until the Second World War.  Djurdjica Lekovska had prepared the project for the memorial houses which had been implemented by TİKA  - Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency (Türk İşbirliği ve Koordinasyon Ajansı)

The Family house of Kemal Ataturk in the 19th century was built by his grandfather Kazli Hafiz Ahmed (Казли Хафиз Ахмед), who in this area came as a Turkish soldier “dervendzhija” (soldiers that kept roads, bridges and crossings where had passed the traders). He stayed here and founded the Turkish neighborhood over the flat part of the village, which lived under special customs.

Ataturk father Ali Riza Efendi, seeking for better life decided to move to Thessaloniki, and Ataturk was born in 1881 in the “Pink” house on Islahana street, in Thessaloniki district Kodja Kasim Pasha. 

Historians which are familiar with the character of Kemal Ataturk say just because his father lived among the Macedonians, in Ataturk were merged the best features from both nationalities. Love toward Macedonia, was among the reasons why his father enrolled young Ataturk in Bitola (Monastir) military high school.

As it is told among villagers in Kodzadzik, Ataturk although yearned to visit his family home, he never came to Kodzadzik.

The reconstruction of the family houses of Ataturk was made on basis of an old photograph, which was in the possession of the last remaining female descendant living in Debar. On the location “Tashli neighborhood” are built two houses based on authentic base - one of Ali Riza Efendi, and the other, the family house.

The first is reconstructed as an ethnological house with furniture that captures the former setting. The family house, shows the history of Kodzadzik, with a section dedicated to the ancestors of Ataturk. In one of the rooms is represented Ataturk as a soldier and a statesman.

To Kodzadzik in Zupa municipality you can arrive from the narrow mountain road, on which right side stretches view of Debar and Debar Lake. From the village center to Tashli neighborhood on the hill,  leads new asphalt road.

In early XX century, a Muslim man often came to the “St. Ilija” church in the village of Mirkovci, near Skopje, a took some of the water that sprung in the very church that he believed had healing properties and gave it to his ill wife. The pair believed that a miracle would happen and she would get healthy.

One day, the sexton serving in the monastery complex at the time, mumbled that he wouldn’t give healing water to a man from a different religion, so he filled his pot with water from the Banjani River, which flowed near the monastery. After some time, the Muslim man came back to the church, overjoyed and bringing presents. His wife got better and he believed it was because of the water from the church, not knowing that sometimes he was given water from the river. This story is told from generation to generation in the village of Mirkovci and we were reminded of it when we visited the monastery complex “St. Ilija” last weekend.

There is a situation depicted in a gospel in the Holy Bible about an ill woman who had spent her entire property on doctors, with none of them able to cure her. She approached from behind, touched Jesus’s clothes and suddenly got healthy. Jesus asked: “Who touched me?” The woman said it was her and why she had done it, to which Jesus replied: “Don’t be afraid my daughter, your faith saved you. Go with peace!”

Archaeological site “Balaklija”

People still come to the church to take some of the water they believe is healing. But, there are periods when there is no water because the spring dries up. Water sprung up again last year on the holiday of Good Friday – Balaklija, the day when the adjacent church, also part of the monastery complex, celebrates its patron. The holiday of Good Friday is dedicated to Virgin Mary because she washed Jesus’s wounds on this day, which is why people come to the springs to wash their face and eyes, or throw some water behind them three times. That is why this holiday is mostly celebrated in churches located near a spring. After the water sprung up on that day, it dried up again the very next, but reappeared again later.

The locals believe that the old and small church “Balaklija”, located just a few steps away from the church of “St. Ilija” is the oldest church in this part of Skopje with construction beginning in the XI century.

There isn’t much information in detail about this monastery, which is very popular among the people of Skopje on 2nd August – the Uprising Day. It was built before WWII on the site of the former monastery. There are three churches in the complex – the old “St. Ilija” church, the new “St. Ilija” church and the “Virgin Mary” church, or Balaklija, as locals call it.

The known information about this part of the city is recorded by the Centre for scientific research and promotion of culture in Skopje – HAEMUS. A team from the centre, led by Vasilka Dimitrovska, MSc in Archaeology, explored the village of Mirkovci in 2013 and found a new site, “Balaklija”. The results of the preliminary research showed that buildings from the late antique or medieval periods can be found in and around the village. We had the opportunity of seeing the items found by HAEMUS during our visit of the site.

According to HAEMUS’s research, there is a pillar made of stone of volcanic origin, which is part of the fence, in the yard of the “Virgin Mary” church, which, even though severely damaged, leads to the assumption that it was part of an object dating back to the late antique or medieval period. The field configuration with remains from a semi-circular, apsis-shaped stone structure, points to the possible existence of a sacred object. There haven’t been any surface findings and without any archaeological probing or excavation it is difficult to understand the character of the building.

There is a dislocated capital, which was part of a marble architectural sculpture of an early Christian basilica, located in the church, by one of the walls. The finding is pretty damaged and worn out, which points to a secondary use in later architectural buildings. Wax remains and a sitting pillow placed on it lead to an assumption that it may have been used for different purposes related to folklore and people’s beliefs. The capital is massive, heavy with different scenes depicted on the two sides – one depicts a cross flanked by volutes and the other – David’s 41st psalm, one of the most frequent motifs in art decoration of the Christian monuments.

“The presence of a capital from an early Christian basilica leads to an assumption that we should be looking for the remains of a great sacred building, which probably existed in the same period as the town and the necropolis” – Dimitrovska says.

Other items have also been found – a proof of the rich history of this region

According to Macedonia’s archaeological map, two sites have been registered in the village of Mirkovci so far. Several monuments, or findings, from the Roman period have been recorded to the “Preku Reka” toponym and they are kept in the lapidarium at the Museum of Macedonia. A necropolis from the late antique has been recorded to the “Shumanica” toponym, north of the village, with remains from tombs with stone plate constructions likely to have existed in the village farmlands, but destroyed during the farmers’ work.

The research of HAEMUS gives us an insight of this part of Skopje yet to be explored.

Monastic life

The monastery complex “St. Ilija” – Chardak is one of the many holy temples built on Skopska Crna Gora Mountain, which was a sacred place for Christians, who built churches and monasteries on its slopes during the Ottoman reign. The mountain is also known as Mount Athos of Skopje. It got its name because of the black mantles of the numerous monks who lived there (Skopska Crna Gora – Skopje Black Forest). Some say that around 100 monks were killed during the Ottoman reign.

The “St. Ilija” monastery, one of 15 in a 10 km radius, is probably the only one with active monastic life. There are two monks from Serbia currently residing there. However, it used to be a female monastery. The tombs of several nuns and father Sofronije are located in the yard, in front of the hospice. Father Sofronije, who died in 1890, built the old monastery church “St. Ilija”, and everybody who lived in this sacred place contributed in the construction of the monastery complex. One of the nuns, sister Minadora, built the hospice where the two monks from Serbia are currently staying.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to see them. They were inside their monastic cells. There was nobody in the monastery during our visit. Only the candles in the yard were proof that there were other visitors before us.

People not related to church are not allowed to stay in the hospice. The bell tower, however, is in a phase of preparation and is expected to have a capacity of 20 people.

The monastery is also a good place for school excursions. Schools from Skopje organize visits to the monastery, albeit not very often. The complex is surrounded by a high fence. The yard is big, with abundance of grass and is ideal for children to play. The famous national restaurant “Chardak” is located next to the monastery.

You will find your spiritual peace during the visit of this monastery complex located in a beautiful, untouched nature. There are many reasons to spend a day in this part of Skopje and you might even find out something about this place that is yet to be explored by archaeologists.

On the slopes of the Mount Klepa the history and present intertwine, mixed with natural beauty, water and the smell of spring flowers. All this makes Oraovec village a desirable place to visit due to health, vacation and brief introduction to history.

In spring the village is wonderful, the colors and scents of the lilacs mix, but also the scents of the olive trees there are in large numbers, although the village is located at a high altitude. Villagers proudly show the three fountains where clean mountain water gushes out. They say there is plenty of drinking water and that they do not have trouble in the hot days. It cannot be extremely hot in the village, especially because of the numerous walnut trees that cast thick shadows.

The village is at an altitude of 500 meters, offers peace and quiet, but also an opportunity to treat as an air bath. Due to the number of walnut trees, the village derives its name Oraovec. It's one of the reasons that air in the village has healing attributes.

- For three decades children from the municipality came in the village to get a treatment because we have good water and air. The numerous walnuts enrich the air with iodine so children get treated here quickly. “Oraovec once was an air bath, as Jasenovo is now”, says Olga Petkova, a resident of the village.

The natural lake is also a great boon and serves for bathing over the summer, when the village is more alive with the return of numerous residents. While walking the visit the church "St. Spas" located in the village is unavoidable. It was built in 1839 by the architect Andrej Damjanov. Inside is a valuable iconostasis and numerous ancient icons. The village has a specific architecture with stone roofs.

"All the houses are covered with stone slabs, as natural air conditioning; cool in summer, warm in winter. We do not need another cooling, the isolation is all natural. The stone slabs originate from a nearby quarry", says Olga. She also underlines that the vegetable products of the residents of Oraovec are particularly popular on the Veles market. The reason for that is the environmentally pristine land, making the local products healthier than others.

The small village was home to important people of the Macedonian history. The few people that live in the village are especially proud of the glorious past of Oraovec. At the end of April, many of the guests come to lay flowers on the graves of the Gemici Milan Arsov and the Ilinden Duke Jovan Naumov - Alabak.

Oraovec village, with its natural beauty and significant historical past is desirable to visit. Its inhabitants look forward to every guest and friendly welcome them. Thus, if there is nowhere to go, visit Oraovec and enjoy the freshness of walnut trees and the healthy air.

The entire region of Kavadarci was full with water mills – around a hundred, and even more in the Tikvesh region. The locals have a saying that electricity has milled the water mills, with the reduction of water and wheat also contributing significantly to that.

Historian Petre Kamchevski, Director of the museum in Kavadarci, told us that the mill in Moklishko, near the village of Vatasha, is one of the oldest in the region. It belongs to the monastery “St.Nicholas”, so we went there, along with father Borche Bogoevski, Head of the Vatasha parish, to take a photo of it.

“People have told me that the mill had worked until 1940. It was used to grind wheat for the people and animals at the monastery, as well as the region of Vatasha. The monastery had several herds and land for its own use” – the father says.

The mill is no longer active. There was a person in charge of it until three years ago. We asked father Borche if it was true that thieves were stealing the equipment and sold it at the scrapyard. “I can’t say for sure if it was stolen for that purpose, but there are consequences because part of the equipment is really missing”.

Someone had locked the front door, so we couldn’t go inside, at least not in the usual way. In order to see where the wheat was ground, we had to go through an opening in the lower part of the object, where water should run in normal circumstances. There was something strangely beautiful about that antique with all the stones, spider webs and dust around us.

“We are prepared to activate this mill at any time if the water level rises, if there is wheat as before and if there is need for it to be ground. We will change the lock as soon as possible for everybody that wants to see it to be able to enter it freely. There are many people interested in seeing this old mill, especially young people, who have never seen such an object” – Bogoevski says.

Functional, but with nothing to grind

The mill in the village of Krnjevo, near Kavadarci, is functional, but there is nothing to grind. There used to be five mills at the river that produced flour and animal food for around four thousand people living in the villages in this region. Today, this old mill is the only one working, but with the small number of people still living in the villages nearby, it is also slowly dying.

Eighty­two­year­old Vangel Andonov from Skopje returned to his birthplace several years ago and went from a retired mechanic to a dedicated miller. He died around 40 days ago without seeing his water mill working as it used to, even though he ground some flour for some dogs, chicken and a pig before he died.

His 63­year­old grandson, Ljupcho Jovanov, occasionally visits the village, but plans to spend more time here once he retires.

“I come from a milling family. I grew up by the four stones that used to grind flour day and night. I learnt the craft and because I am a lathe operator, I keep the maintenance on the mill parts. I am one of its heirs now. But wheat is scarce now for the mill to be able to work. Even though this is the only mill in a 50­km radius, it is rarely working” – Jovanov says.

He recalls that there were farmers from many villages near Kavadarci and Negotino grinding their flour, sometimes even red pepper, in the mills. Jovanov says that the mill is open for tourists at any time.

Mills for flour and poppy oil

According to Turkish documents regarding the history of the Macedonian nation from 1570, there were many mills in the Tikvesh region, seven of which were located in Vatasha. The provision for the millers was 15­20% ­ flour or money.

In early 20th century, there were 12 mills at the Luda Mara River. Some were used only for wheat, while others were also used for poppy oil. During the high season, up to 20 people were working in the mills.

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

This quote fits perfectly with my trip in Macedonia. Because sometimes the best travel experiences are the most surprising ones. 

It rained in Skopje for the first day of my trip. It rained the second too. It rained, and rained, and rained. There was nothing else for it, I had to spend my whole time of my trip talking with locals, eating, drinking, talking with people again, getting involved in their routine, eating again, hoping the rain will leave, praying for it, “tasting” wine and so on. Places are so great when you are hanging with homies so I am really glad I was able to meet some cool people while I was there. And since we already started, let me share with you the top of my reasons for visiting Macedonia.

The people

Simple as that. There is something about Macedonians that not only I really like, but made me feel like Macedonia is my homeland. Well, it’s not a secret that writers often exaggerate and use big words in order to make them seem more interesting or exciting, but I promise you that I am not exaggerating at all with this next statement:

In Macedonia I felt like home.

In my first day I had quite a difficult time to adapt in Macedonia because everything felt familiar and natural, I was not used to feel that way. I came here full of stereotypes and prejudices I’ve heard, but damn! People are extremely friendly and nice, laid-back and simple with a good sense of humor and vibe. Language barrier? Not a single chance. From the bus driver, to cleaning lady, vendors, policemans, casual people, actually I’ve never met a single person I couldn’t get along with.

Amazing country for vegetarians.

From the first sight you may see that Macedonians love meat. It’s true but if you go further you may find some of the most delectable vegetarian cuisine. Macedonia’s mountainous geography, unique climate and rich fertile soil make some ideal conditions for vegetables. Everything is organic, without the standard array of potentially harmful, and…

It’s affordable (but not cheap)

You can get a great meal for around 3€, and for 5€-10€ you can eat and drink like a queen. Transportation is quite cheap (9€ Skopje -Ohrid for example) and so is accommodation (8€ for an excellent hostel or 30€-50€ for a double room in a cosy hotel). It’s really a great place to go if you’re on a low-medium budget but your travel experience will not stop at that. Macedonia is full of outdoor and extreme activities, cultural and traditional cities hard to reach so this will cost you extra money.

Skopje is more surprising than you expect.

Skopje may not be the highest profile European capital, but that will soon change. One trip to the Old Bazaar changed it all for me. Actually, there are many beautiful places to see, wine to taste, The Old Bazaar which is stunning, but what shocked me litteraly was the Matka Canyon.

The contrast could is extremely dramatic, as the city gradually gave way to mountain, forest and lake. Partial cloud cover caused the water to reflect green, rather than blue, making the lake look more spectacular amongst the mountainous backdrop. It’s hard to believe that the city is so close by.

The famous “Skopje 2014″ project

“Skopje 2014″ was a both costly and controversial project launched by the government in 2010 in an effort to transform the capital into a more unified and visually appealing European city but also to rebuild the city that lost many of its landmarks in a 1963 earthquake. The project consists mainly of the construction of museums and government buildings, as well as the erection of monuments, fountains and stuff. To be honest I loved all of them. However, Skopje deserves better. As a personal opinion I think they are a bit overdoing it. The whole effect is certainly nothing less than eyebrow-raising. And for some people it is positively stomach-churning. But in raising the profile of the city, Skopje 2014 has achieved the desired effect.

Yes, you should not wonder about it. This is a less known fact, but despite the famous endemic species of fish, the Lake Ohrid is a natural environment for two crab species that until recently were not so familiar for the public. Twenty five years ago these ancient inhabitants of the lake were on the brink of extinction, because of the the plague that raged in all the freshwaters throughout Europe.

The professional divers from Ohrid say that a few years ago it was really rare to see the crabs in the lake, but now the situation is much better. The most common is the European freshwater crab stakus astakus, which can be found everywhere in the lake. This crab prefers a soft bottom with a little sand. He digs tunnels at the bottom and mostly his entrance is under a stone or a rock. It get out and it feeds at night.

Less known is the Potamon fluviatile or the so-called crooked crab. It is often found beside the rocky part and in the rocky areas on small depths. In the Lake Ohrid the  freshwater crooked cancer is usually seen in the Struga area on the Macedonian side, while on the Albanian side of the lake there are larger colonies.

In the past, the freshwater crab from the lake was used for preparing delicious specialties. Today it is an endangered specie protected by the law and must not be catched for commercial purposes.

Both of the autochthonous crabs living in Lake Ohrid, were recently presented at the central square in Ohrid. They were a real attraction for the passersby and the tourists who had an opportunity to have a closer look and get familiarwith the freshwater crab, since many people didn’t  know that it lives in the largest Macedonian lake.

Lake Ohrid is the oldest in Europe. This was confirmed by recent research conducted by Italian scientists from the Albanian side. But this information is not new. The results of their analysis matched with the German research scientists last year. 

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The first results confirmed the fact that the lake is old over 1.2 million years but research on determining the exact age is still ongoing.

So in the future will be more accurately determined the age of the lake, Suzana Patceva, Director of Hydrobiological Institute in Ohrid said, -Kurir.

Accordingly to the age the lake differs with distinctive wildlife. "It features with numerous endemic forms that are over 200 species and numerous relict forms, that are archaic forms of plant and animals that come away from the past," Patceva.

Every place has its own image and soul, colours and scents, people and events it is known for and making it special, even in its inevitable transience.

One such place is Malesia (near Struga), which, deep down in its heart, in Selce, is preserving the memory of Macedonian greats Vojdan Chernodrinski and Arseni Jovkov. The former was founder of Macedonian drama, a man who dared to call his Macedonian theatres “an engaged national political theatre”, and author of the “Macedonian bloody wedding”, and the latter was a prominent revolutionary, people’s favourite leader, a poet and creator of the first Macedonian documentary film.

The road to Selci and the story about those two and Malesia, told from generation to generation, leads beside the beautiful Lake Globochica, all the way to the Globochica hydro power plant. From this point, the village can be reached through a narrow and steep path passing through colourful mountain landscape. The infrastructure and the ruined old road is an unpleasant image mirroring the current negligence of the region that is full of people from early spring until late autumn.

There are two villages located in this part of the wooded slopes of Stogovo Mountain – Selce and Burinec, interconnected throughout history, both economically and ethnically, but each of them with its own history and development. They are separated by Stajilska, or Selechka River. Selce, the birthplace of Chernodrinski and Jovkov, is on the right side of the river.

A suitable name for its people

The current village of Selce hasn’t always been located at an altitude of 1.050 metres nor has it always been called that way. The first residence of the locals was called Stajlo or Slailo was located much lower.

“There are traces of former settlements in the area of Selce and Burinec. It is believed that there was a town once at the current site called Graishta and there are still remains of the Kaja fortress, built around the same time as the fortress in Ohrid. There is a record of it in the old church of “Saint Nicholas”, with only its altar preserved to this day. The fortress served to secure the local road that connected Debar with Debarca and the Struga field, and was positioned so that the Kodjadjik tower and the Ohrid Lake were visible. There are remains of several other settlements still visible in the area. The villages of Selce and Burinec used to be part of the municipality of Debar, because of their proximity to the town. That influence can be seen through the folk costumes” – author Ljupcho Paunkoski, in his documentary called “Malesia”, says. The legend says that people from the entire region sought refuge higher up the mountain during times of occupation and the village of Selce was formed – a village with a suitable name for people in trouble.

“It is a very old village and the first record of it dates back to 1863 as Selce Dolno. According to some of locals, the village got its name because it used to be small” – Paunkoski says.

The population of the village soon reached 1.050, consisting of 150 to 180 houses, and Selce soon became an important Macedonian Orthodox settlement.

The following years, especially after the end of the Ilinden uprising, many of the people went to work in America. Most of the families were patriarchal, consisting of at least 7 descendants, which is why even the Ottoman soldiers and bandits were wise to stay clear of trouble. The people of Selce were always armed, even when going to church and whereas they were carrying guns and rifles at the time, to this day, their words and deeds have still remained their biggest weapon.

The origins of unyieldingness

The trademark and pride of Selce and Macedonian history, as the story goes are the two village leaders, Priest Jon, or Jovan Slavkoski and Atanasij Tanasko Jovkov and their sons – Vojdan (Slavkoski) Chernodrinski and Arseni Jovkov – brilliant but tragic personas, just like the era in which they lived.

Jon was the village mayor for thirteen years before becoming a priest in 1889.

“Priest Jon Slavkoski was sentenced to 101 years in prison during the Ottoman reign and was sent to Anatolia. He was sent back to Macedonia after the Hurriyet. He was killed by rebels in his own house in 1943 and was buried in the yard of the “Saint Nicholas” church” – Ljupcho Paunkoski documentary reveals.

Priest Jon was a man revered by generations after his death. People even tell stories about his endeavours. One of them is about the encounter between Jon and Raim the robber.

“They aimed at each other, but instead of shooting, knowing that he would die, Raim took his axe in anger and butchered his own mule!”

However, faith caught up with Priest Jon and he and his family were killed in their own birthplace.

Faith was even crueller to Jovkov’s family. He was responsible for the opening of the first school in Selce, which was “unseen and unheard of at the time”. It was a “miracle” that brought light into the dark Malesia in the form of education. The first teacher in Selci was Marija Slavkoska, who graduated from teaching school in Wien.

Because of his teaching work and initiative to get more young people to educate themselves, Tanasko Jovkov often clashed with the regional leaders, even with the Greek bishop in Bitola, which is why he was sentenced to prison and later caught in ambush and executed.

Unable to cope with his father’s death, Tanasko’s oldest son, Niko Jovkov became leader of the first revolutionary cells in the region as soon as VMRO was formed. When Niko died, his younger brother, Arseni, got involved, becoming the leader of his brother’s group and was an authentic chronicler of the situation in Macedonia at the time and the Ilinden uprising.

The people of Selci preserved the memory of the village’s greats by building a memorial monument in the centre of the village. The marble plate says: “Vojdan Chernodrinski (1875 – 1951) and Arseni Jovkov (1884 – 1924). This country will remember them for being its part and a shining mark of its rise. Grateful Macedonia, Selci, 1979.”

Word as a blade

You must have heard the saying “Like father, like son”. Arseni Jovkov and Vojdan Chernodrinski and their fathers are certainly a good example of it. Those young people continued to walk on the path set by their fathers, with their own way and their own weapon, until their final hours.

Historical facts are irrefutable: the birthplace of these greats and visionaries, who were, at least one step ahead of their time, is not the only thing they had in common. They also shared the same immense love and loyalty to their enslaved country and limitless faith in its prosperity and future, including their extraordinary creative gift and ability to lay down and build the foundations of the Macedonian drama and theatre, journalism, literature, film art, as well as their highest ideal – independent Macedonia.

It is truly remarkable how the “ignorant” peasants from Selce became part of Macedonian history, culture and art. How did it even occur to Chernodrinski to establish his own Macedonian theatre in Sofia and secure a repertoire of his own Macedonian dramas in Macedonian language during such difficult times? How did Jovkov “sharpen” his striking journalistic word, more powerful than a lightning? Where did his courage, persistence, strength and uncompromising attitude come from?

Jovkov’s idea to eternalize the 20th anniversary of the Ilinden uprising, when Goce Delchev’s remains would be placed in the premises of the Ilinden organization in Sofia and later transferred to Skopje, in the early days of film when it was still just an attraction, was brilliant. He was also very serious about his idea to write a script and shoot “a monumental historic spectacle about Macedonian life and struggles, which seem to be our inevitable destiny”.

That is why there is an article about Arseni Jovkov in the World Movie Encyclopaedia, published in 1980. According to film experts, the script titled “Ilinden”, based on his poem of the same name, written in 1905, was graphically illustrated in a period when such way of expression was unknown. Experts also noted that the documentary film “Macedonia through images” had “a tight dramaturgical structure consisting of numerous film elements which only showed that the author had a sense about the film media and that he was familiar with the laws of the film form”. All of this sums up to the conclusion that these are precious pieces which represent the testament of the cultural history (particularly the film history) of Macedonia.

The answer to all these questions probably lies somewhere deep in Malesia and Stogovo. Their extraordinary beauty will give you a clear mind, strength, motivation, verve, etc. and that is why this place will never be forgotten. People keep returning to their birthplace to stay as long as they can, and leave again, until the next time.