North Macedonia > Skopje Region > Skopje
Skopje
N 41°59.891', E 21°26.047'
2016-11-14
http://www.exploringmacedonia.com/skopje.nspx
Our rating: 6.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The capital of Macedonia Skopje is not the most touristic destination of the country. The city has a troubled history , a few times it was completely destroyed by the earthquake. In 1963 there was another devastating earthquake and 80% of the buildings were completely destroyed. Since then the city has been rebuilt, there were few projects. In 2010, was started the last project, which received mixed reviews, even from Macedonians. 500 million euros were already spent and locals say that most of the money was stolen. Before 1963 Skopje looked like a normal Balkan town.
Old Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Old Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Old Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
What happened now - hard to say. At first glance it is a normal town with a normal waterfront.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Most likely that was the best place in the center, because basically it looks like this.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje seems to set a world record for the number of sculptures in the city center. They are there everywhere, at every step. This is due to the fact that the country for a long time was not recognized as an independent state. To prove the world that Macedonia is an ancient country with many historical figures, hundreds of monuments have been created. To be honest, this is not the best solution. There should be only few monuments, so people can remember them and learn their history.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
There are a lot of bridges over the river Vardar and during the last reconstruction of the center two new were built.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Cyril and Methodius, the creators of the first Cyrillic alphabet, for some time lived on the territory of Macedonia. 24 May is a public holiday - the Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
The biggest monument to Alexander the Great.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Lion in the fountain on the central square says - take me away from here.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Unnecessary glass buildings on the central square.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Philip II - father of Alexander the Great.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
The mother of Alexander the Great with her son at different ages.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
In the background Stone Bridge Hotel, the best accommodation in the city. We had a lunch there.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
The church of St. Demetrios.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
And this is a general view of the central square. It is very small and easy visited in 1-2 hours.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
To the left is the university, built over the highway (!)
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Photos we have done from the broken steps.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Typical landscape of the socialist city.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
There are two, really historical attractions. First is a Stone Bridge.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
View from the bridge.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Second one is a Kale Fortress, turkish heritage. It was destroyed in 1963 and is still being restored.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Near the fortress there is a large free parking. Although the residents of the city park on the sidewalks.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Fortress offer views of the city.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
In the background, in the distance, visible high-rise buildings with 20 floors and more. Other countries on the seismological Balkans do not built such houses.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
We also planned to visit the Millennium Cross by cableway, but the cableway at the end of October was already closed, so we just stopped on an unusual observation deck on the way there. Unusual, because you have to climb on the strange construction which is a little scary.
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Skopje ©Yuriy Buriak
Map of Skopje ©skopje.gov.mk
Getting there: there is an airport, from there by Vardar Ekspres bus ($3) or by taxi ($21).
Tags, North Macedonia: city Tags, all countries: city
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 6.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help