Macedonia Art & Culture: Top 5 Experiences You Won’t Want To Miss

If you’re looking to explore Europe in a way that’s maybe different than your typical trips, Macedonia has a bunch to offer anyone even remotely interested in expressive art and a really deep history. That said, from really old churches that just almost look like they’ve grown out of the ground to spots with really unique sculptures, and even like, paintings, Macedonia provides a peek into like, cultural richness that’s surprisingly accessible to visitors. Now, that being said, what spots do you want to put at the top of your travel list? Keep reading for like, your guide to some stand-out locales and moments for tourists who love the arts.

1. Skopje: A City Reborn Through Sculpture and Architecture

Skopje, like, the nation’s capital, gives you this feeling of maybe standing in, too it’s almost, a film set—especially after the “Skopje 2014” project. Okay so, that project aimed to revitalize the city with statues, modern buildings, and fountains, yet it did receive a bit of pushback at the time. Yet, you may enjoy The Stone Bridge, for instance, dating all the way back to the Roman era; it links the modern and older parts of the city.

Statues honor a bunch of Macedonian people, one that is clearly apparent is the enormous Warrior on a Horse monument thought to depict Alexander the Great, located in the city’s central square. Basically, for anybody into taking pictures and experiencing sights, it could be worth a visit, since it’s definitely striking. A little nearby, is that you can visit the Memorial House of Mother Teresa, which honors her birth in Skopje and features some unique exhibits pertaining to her life.

Want more of a sense for what the locals love to look at? Very near is the National Gallery of Macedonia. So, it lives in the Daud Pasha Turkish Bath House, and the building itself goes all the way back to the 15th century. The collections on show mostly focus on art made in Macedonia starting from around the 14th century. Is that, you’re very welcome to come walk around, maybe with your friends and your camera, but you might just like to admire the artwork itself.

Read our full review: Skopje sculpture architecture Full Review and Details

2. Ohrid: Churches and Frescoes by the Lake

Alright, so you might have heard of Lake Ohrid. A lot of people consider it the most attractive locale within Macedonia, like your dream travel destination. You might, in some respects, imagine a visit without experiencing its churches. Saint Sophia Church stands as what, in a way, is thought of to be an excellent example of Byzantine design, going all the way back to the 11th century and hosting an amazing number of medieval frescoes. Many of them can be viewed while walking around, maybe as a relaxing morning or afternoon activity.

That said, for a really well-known sight, try checking out the Church of Saint John at Kaneo. Usually, often featured on Macedonian postcards and tourist literature, and you may just feel it too; this church gives those serene snapshots people imagine. I mean, in some respects, if you take a look, its location alone might be worthy of a painter to spend a day working on its portrait. Is that, too it’s almost, one can find the church set atop a cliff which falls directly into Lake Ohrid, and this provides really excellent views, especially around sunset.

Very near this locale, slightly further along from the clear waters of Lake Ohrid, just a bit to the south, is the Bay of Bones Museum. At the time of its construction, they intended it to be a real record of prehistoric life by the lake. Yet, its architecture and set design may offer a cultural experience that anyone could like and remember.

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3. Stobi: Ruins of a Lost City

You know, in that case, if history gets you feeling that excitement, then very, very Stobi, a lost city filled with very, very old ruins from both the Roman and Byzantine times, is there too it’s almost, the place. First, as a matter of fact, you can just get lost exploring old places of worship and theaters adorned with mosaic artwork. Some visitors say, for example, it’s quite astonishing for anyone into walking around an important location.

At the time, the archeological site presents, typically, what a lot of folk describe as a rich layer cake of what past peoples were experiencing, since Stobi existed for literally thousands of years and existed at what we could think of today, arguably, as some significant crossroads that mattered a great deal back then. A lot of visitors love to tell of, in effect, coming there early in the day while it is still quiet. Because, in some respects, at that moment, visitors feel, like your, what they might describe as total magic of a time that passed.

There’s some neat artwork here and there at Stobi that anybody, by the way, can spend some time enjoying; one spot, to be exact, shows that of a peacock. In effect, walking amongst this ancient spot is in some respects the same thing as walking through time, to be honest.

Read our full review: Stobi historical site Full Review and Details

4. Kratovo: Stone Town

That is, slightly lesser folk seem to realize that just a little bit, there’s a small, little spot known for what a lot of tourists find attractive. Just a bit to the east, slightly away from Skopje, rests the sleepy small town of Kratovo. I mean, naturally, what’s especially lovely and pretty and cute in this spot? The architecture. The region provides bridges and buildings designed using rocks, and if you’re interested, you can go take your travel photos here to add a different dimension to all your holiday memories. By the way, this locale might, tends to be, an example that history is found everywhere. In other words, tourists who love a more unusual travel story will probably love coming here and glancing all over the place.

Some tourists, still, decide to describe Kratovo as very, very “charming” as they just a little bit amble amongst, in some respects, all the older construction. Often, it’s, seemingly, simple to see why people make trips here to chill out away from everything else! It offers this vibe which anybody, obviously, may describe, if they had to compare, against an area frozen still in time!

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5. Kokino: Ancient Observatory

Speaking of odd, unusual travel memories, Kokino is arguably yet another location of significance for anybody. Often, that ancient site up close to Kumanovo dates all the way back around to the Bronze Age. By the way, just how long ago was that? Over three thousand years, right! Well, what seems particularly cool here for some visitors is that just slightly away, the site features specific markers. Anyway, based upon how scientists describe it, you had these folk watching where both the Sun, and the Moon were, a seriously, seriously ancient practice to look up to the stars and get ideas!

Kokino has been added onto the UNESCO list, after that happened the North Macedonia location earned that status based upon its distinct and arguably impressive ancient construction. To be honest, even just taking pictures within the vicinity, if one takes photos with a good enough digital camera, that said camera might make all your buddies jealous back home because of just how good these are going to end up appearing to the viewer. Obviously, right, since a bunch of these pictures look so cool it should be of absolutely no shock as to why its just absolutely quite the spot for all the visiting history fans.

Read our full review: Kokino observatory Full Review and Details

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