"Skopje" Skopje by badamcevski

Skopje Travel Guide: 809 reviews and 2,025 photos

(1991)
Population: 563,301
Area: sq km 1,818

The first impression of the visitor to Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, is invariably the same: it is a new and modern city. This is true, but it is also true that Skopje is a very old city , too.

Skopje is the political, economic and cultural centre of Macedonia. All the state institutions have their seats here. It is also the major centre of the metal-processing, chemical, timber, textile, leather and printing industries. Industrial development has been accompanied by an intensive development of internal and external trade and banking, as well as activities in the fields of culture and sport

You can reach Skopje by train, car or air. The firsi train to arrive in Skopje was from Salonica in the distant year of 1873.
Skopje

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Arhiepiskopskiot Soboren svet hram "Sv. Kliment Ohridski" vo Skopje
Skopje is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Macedonia. It lies on the upper course of the Vardar river and is located on a major north-south Balkan route between Belgrade and Athens. Skopje was founded as an Illyrian city. In the 4th century AD it became a Roman post called Scupi. It was taken by the Serbs in 1189 and by Ottoman Turks in 1392. In 1913, during the Balkan Wars, the city came under Serbian control, and in 1918 it became part of Yugoslavia.

Skopje was struck by a devistating earthquake in 1963. Some of the houses built immediately after the tragic event are shown in the forefront. Skopje was rebuilt since then and the new residential quarters bear little resemblance with old Skopje.

Many international architects participated in it reconstruction. According to the idea of the Japanese urban planner Kenzo Tanga, the center was given a "city wall" of high-rise buildings, while the banks of the Vardar were laid out as pleasant tree-lined promenades. The ancient trading quarter (charshija) has been completely renovated, but has preserved all the notable features of its original architecture. In this setting the old buildings of cultural and historical interest are seen to even better advantage. They include the Kale Fortress raised in the 6th century (its present appearance dates from the Turkish period), Daut-pasha's baths (15th c., now the Art Gallery), and Mustafa-pasha's mosque (15th c.).

The stone bridge over the Vardar gives access to the old part of the city of Skopje with its many cultural and historical monuments. Built by the Turks on the site of a Roman bridge, it has eleven arches and bears a plaque in middle stating that it was restored by Sultan Murat II (first half of the 15th century).

The 19th-century iconostasis of the church of the Holi Saviour (Sveti Spas) (17th c.) in Skopje, carved in walnut, combines a profusion of plant and animal motifs with the figures of saints in local costumes. This realistic high-relief carving is the work of skilful craftsmen of the Debar area, who included their own figures in one corner of the iconostasis. The iconostasis at Holi Saviour church is one of the finest samples of traditional woodcarving which can be found on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia along with the iconostasis of St. John Bigorski Monastery. On the slopes of nearby Mt. Vodna stands the famous church of St. Panteleimon from 1164, decorated with frescoes of exceptional artistic value.

Currently, the population of Skopje is about half a million people. It is the administrative and political center of the Republic of Macedonia. Industries in the city include iron and steel works, electrical machinery, chemicals, textiles, carpets, and foodstuffs. Skopje is a trading center for the cotton, tobacco, grains, and livestock produced in the surrounding region as well. Besides the Belgrade-Athens highway and railway routes, the city also has the largest airport in the Republic of Macedonia.

Intro Written Sep 8, 2002
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Reviews (20)

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Comments (32)

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Arkeolog Apr 15, 2009 at 8:28 AM

Hi Bojan HAppy birthday from Istanbul. I checked out your Skopje page. I liked your tips and photos.
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Kajser-MK Aug 28, 2007 at 8:20 AM

Odlicna strana za Skopje, posebno mi e prijatno koga ke se procita olku iscprno za Skupi. Super, pozdrav Aleksandar
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lamsterz Jul 26, 2006 at 5:56 AM

Congratulations on finding Nemo. How in the world did you find him/it? And, great page on Skopje!
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Durfun Jun 6, 2006 at 4:32 PM

Hey Bojan, Gr8 pages here.. I love the 'local customs' pg where u pre-empt the situations one could find oneself in, & have thoughtfully provided translations!!! Nice work. Darshan
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Yiannis2000 Oct 29, 2004 at 2:08 PM

Thank you for all the usefull information, I ll call u when i arrive, see u tomorrow!
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MarvintheMartian Apr 15, 2004 at 5:47 PM

Excellent and informative set of tip - keep them coming!
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littlesam1 Oct 10, 2003 at 8:57 AM

I am not familiar with this city at all but learned so much from all of your information. Great page.
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matcrazy1 Aug 30, 2003 at 3:21 PM

Great page and destination! I was there in... late 80'. The most informative page I read recently on VT! My congratulations!
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AndreSTGT Jul 18, 2003 at 12:51 PM

Blagodaram for the language lesson. I loved Skopje, but didn't spend enough time there to enjoy all it has to offer. Nevermind, just another reason to come back.
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drolkar Jul 11, 2003 at 11:59 AM

BLAGODARAM for this great page on Macedonia ! I love the folk costumes... and by any chance, would you be willing to help me translate a Macedonian folk song ?? Best regards from Catherine.