Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery

Sveti Jovan Bigorski (St. John the Baptist Monastery).

This place was built in the 11th century but recent renovation works made it look all new and shiny.

I arrived there a few minutes before evening mass, stumbling upon dozens of black cassocks hurrying through the cobbled yard at the sound of the bell.

Once the long-bearded priests were all gone, the monastery was suddenly quiet and there was just me wandering around its steep alleys and admiring the beautiful view over the valley, while the sun was disappearing behind the forested mountains of Mavrovo Park.