Hello dear readers,
Today, I would like to talk to you about the city of Skopje, which I visited in June 2019. Known as Skopje in the local language, this beautiful city was under Ottoman rule for many years, and the Ottoman-Turkish influence is still intensely felt.
The currency used in North Macedonia is the Macedonian Denar. One Euro is equivalent to 60 Macedonian Denars. You can see an image of the Macedonian Denar below.
Skopje is a city known for its giant statues and, according to some sources, has the highest number of large statues in Europe. It is located at the foot of the Šar Mountains and the Vardar River runs through it.
You can drink the water from the fountains in the center of Skopje. This is because the water comes directly from the Šar Mountains to the taps without entering any reservoirs. The locals are either of Macedonian or Albanian descent. A significant portion of the Albanians are Muslims, and they have preserved their Muslim traditions to this day.
The name of the country was changed to North Macedonia following an agreement with Greece, as historical Macedonia was a significant state claimed by both Greece and modern-day Macedonia. When we think of Macedonia, we immediately think of Alexander the Great and his father, Philip II. Alexander the Great holds a significant presence, especially in Macedonia.
We mentioned that the Vardar River runs through the city center of Skopje. One side of the Vardar River is the old city, predominantly inhabited by Muslims and home to the Turkish Bazaar, while the other side is the Macedonia Square, where more Macedonians live and where the Christian tradition is more prevalent.
I preferred to travel to Skopje by car. However, if you wish to fly, you should head to Alexander the Great Airport. Skopje is not a very expensive city, so I don’t think taxi fares would be very high.
I have already shared in another article how traveling to North Macedonia by car would proceed.
Let’s start discussing the must-see places in Skopje now. Below is a map where you can view the must-see works located in Skopje’s city square.
As can be seen from the map above, the north side of the city, where the Turkish Bazaar inhabited by Muslims is located, is the old settlement area of the city. The houses here are mostly two-story structures with cobblestone streets between them. In old Turkish settlements, we often see some common structures in many cities. For example, in these settlements, bedestens (covered markets), mosques, non-multi-story buildings, inns, and rows of shops stand out. The settlement in this part of Skopje is exactly this way.
Starting with the most important works in this area, let’s first tell about the Murat Pasha Mosque. It is a very cute, medium-sized mosque located in the center of the bazaar and where water from the Šar Mountains flows in the form of a sebil (public fountain). It is located in the main square of the bazaar, in the heart of the old Turkish Bazaar. It is an artifact built by Sahinolou Murat Pasha in the 15th century, on the site of a church previously located there.
Directly opposite the Murat Pasha Mosque is the Double Hammam. In the photo above, you can see both the mosque and the hammam together. The photo also shows people who performed the Ramadan Eid prayer leaving the mosque and participating in the Eid exchanging ceremony.
At the top of the slope leading up from the bazaar to the fortress is the Mustafa Pasha Mosque. This mosque is larger than the Murat Pasha Mosque and has a wider courtyard. I observed that the mosques in Skopje are closed outside of prayer times. However, Mustafa Pasha Mosque’s doors were open, and I got the chance to enter. It was built by Mustafa Pasha, one of the viziers of Selim I, towards the end of the 15th century.
Continuing upwards from the Mustafa Pasha Mosque, you reach the city fortress. The fortress can be visited free of charge until 6:00 PM. Don’t expect to find much inside the fortress, but you can enjoy lovely views of the city from here.
You can especially see the Macedonian side from here. In the 1960 Skopje earthquake, the fortress walls collapsed and have remained with minimal maintenance until today.
Other than these, there are many more Ottoman structures in the city center. The most important of these are the Suluhan, the Kapan Han, the Bedesten, the clock tower, and the Gazi Isa Bey Mosque.
On the upper part of the Vardar River, there is a statue of Skanderbeg, significant to the Albanians. A similar statue also exists in Pristina. It is known that Skanderbeg was a commander who organized Albanian resistance against the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.
As you walk towards the Stone Bridge, you are greeted by a huge monument. This monument features a statue of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, and is quite magnificent.
When crossing to the lower part of the Vardar River, you will encounter a large square called Macedonia Square. If you cross via the Stone Bridge, you will use the city’s most historic and important bridge. This bridge was built by Murad II, and there are inscriptions regarding it.
Adjacent to the Stone Bridge is the Bridge of Art, where a succession of statues greets you.
In the very center of Macedonia Square, a colossal statue of Alexander the Great stands. This statue, roughly 25 meters tall, was created in Florence to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Macedonia’s independence. It’s said that the construction of this statue led to tensions in relations between Greece and Macedonia.
Just beyond Macedonia Square lies the Gate of Macedonia. Unlike other arc de triomphes in Europe, the Gate of Macedonia is a very new construction, completed in 2012. It is said to have been built in memory of the Macedonian people’s struggle for independence.
Nicola Vapcarov Street is a lovely street lined with cafes. Here, you will also find the house of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa was born in Skopje and is renowned for her charitable works worldwide. As a result, the Macedonian people have a special interest in Mother Teresa, and both locals and foreign tourists visit her house.
Right next to this house, there is a large church and a tall bell tower.
On a hill visible from anywhere in the city, there is a large cross, which was erected to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Christianity in these lands.
If you wish to escape the city center of Skopje and enjoy some natural beauty, you should definitely visit the Matka Canyon.
Matka Canyon is a spectacular natural wonder, situated among mountains, with raised water levels due to a dam at one end. It features opportunities for canoe and boat trips and a side lined with cafes. You absolutely must visit this place. You can drive to a certain point, after which you walk along a path surrounded by barriers to reach the cafes.
That’s all I have to say about Skopje. You must visit this lovely city. I wish you all pleasant travels.
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