Despite the harsh history, despite the conquests and centuries-long domination, divisions and re-divisions, naming and renaming through time, Macedonia has preserved its individuality and the individuality of its culture.
Orthodox churches and monasteries, frescoes and icons, fascinating wood-carvings on iconostasis, old manuscripts and holy books, remains of ancient settlements, marvelous mosaics, fascinating world of Islamic architecture of mosques, old bazaars and Turkish baths, Antique theatres and Roman amphitheatres, marble sculptures, temples, Early Christian basilicas, rich folklore – waits for you to experience it, sense it in an unusual way.
In every town, in every part of Macedonia you will witness a part of our heritage that determines our cultural tradition.
Stobi, remains of an ancient settlement from the Roman period, with a Roman theatre from the 2nd century, a synagogue from the 3rd century, an old Episcopal basilica from the early 4th century, baptistery from the 6th century, is located near the town of Veles.
Just next to Bitola archeologists have traced the long history of Heraclea Lyncestis, an ancient theatre with several basilicas, marvelous floor mosaics and baths, back to the late Bronze Age.
The cathedral church St. Sophia, the most significant medieval church in Macedonia, Church of the Holy Mother of God (St. Bogorodica Peribleptos) 1295, Holy Mother of God, Zaum, 1361, St. Naum, 893-900, and many, many more will leave you breathless in Ohrid, the cradle of Christianity.
One of the most beautiful mosques in this part of the world, in the hearth of Tetovo, with its impressive décor in Ottoman Turkish baroque style is the Motley Mosque, built in 1459.
Another stunning thing to see in Tetovo is the Arabati Baba Tekke (dervish lodge), built in the last decades of the 18th century.
St. Panteleimon from 1164 and Marko’s Monastery from 1345 in Skopje, St. Jovan Bigorski from 1020 in Debar, Osogovski
Monastery from 11th century in Kriva Palanka, St. George Monastery 1067-1071 in Staro Nagoricane, St. Bogorodica Eleussa from 1080 in Veljusa and St. Leonthius from 11th century in Vodoca, both near Strumica, all of them stand as monuments of our existence.
