Welcome to the less traversed corner of Europe, the Balkan Peninsula. Visit Macedonia and see what few people have seen: magnificent nature, hidden valleys, and rugged mountains. Visit Macedonia and receive one of the warmest receptions in Europe.

 

From ancient spiritual sites to ecological and mountain tourism, Macedonia offers something unique for everyone. Its easily accessible but undiscovered national parks allow a closeness to nature and wilderness that is increasingly hard to find in Europe. Macedonia also offers historical sites, bustling local markets, and the conveniences of modern cities, with good restaurants, hotels, and shopping centres, all within easy reach.

 

Macedonia has a rich cultural heritage reflecting its importance to the Macedonians, Thracians, Romans, Goths, Byzantines, and Turks who all ruled or fought over it at one time or another.

 

Macedonia also has a proud place in history as one of the first Christian nations. This is reflected in the atmospheric old monasteries and churches and many valuable frescoes.

 

This is a country where the influence of the old Turkish Empire can still be seen and felt. Numerous Orthodox monasteries and churches located in the western part of the country stand alongside many mosques, making the region an alluring mixture of Eastern Christianity and Islamic cultures.

 

The modern Republic of Macedonia is just half of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia. The centre of ancient Macedonia was the valley of the river Vardar which flows south into the Aegean sea near Thessaloniki. In the west are the beautiful lakes near Ohrid on the Albanian border. In the north, a ring of mountains and deep river valleys protected ancient Macedonia beginning with the Crni Drim river and Shar mountains in the north west, the Skopska Crna Gora range in the centre and the Pirin mountains in the east. Each of these played an important role in the formation of modern Macedonia. Since 1913 this geographic and historical region has been divided between Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria, and only some 40 percent of its area is occupied by the independent state, MACEDONIA.

 

Macedonia is among the countries with the most beautiful preserved Byzantine fresco painting, mainly from the period between the 11th and 16th centuries. There are several thousand square metres of fresco painting preserved, the majority in very good condition representing masterworks of the Macedonian School of ecclesiastical painting. According to UNESCO Macedonia has one of the world’s most impressive icon galleries, dating as back to the 10th century (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/99).

 

The Cyrillic alphabet, used everywhere in eastern Europe, from Macedonia to Russia, was created by St. Kliment of Macedonia in the 9th century. Ohrid became a centre of Slavic intellectual fervour, organising the First Pan Slavic University in Europe and by the beginning of the 11th century, was the centre of Samuil 's Empire.

 

 

It is hard to imagine that there are still places in Europe only recently touched by the breath of civilization. The villages in Macedonia have managed to maintain their traditions and their history. If you seek tranquillity and solitude you absolutely must take a trip back in time and immerse yourself in the cosy village environment. Many of Macedonia's villages preserve the kind of stone or timber-built farmhouses which have largely died out elsewhere in the Balkans. A number have been spruced up or rebuilt with tourism in mind - Skundrinje, Jance, Vevcani, Brajcino, Stenje, Staravina, Resava and Tresonce are some of the most evocative. Trellises full of grapes and light-filled gardens overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables have been part of Macedonian rural life for centuries. Even most city-dwelling Macedonians have small plots in their native villages where they grow vegetables and fruits and prepare sweet compotes and home-made wine and Rakia (Macedonian grape or plum brandy). In these villages people and produce are still transported by horse or mule. At dawn the quiet village becomes animated with pleasant sounds of the awakening life - the crowing rooster, dogs, and the villagers starting their day.

 

Macedonia is approximately the size of Wales. Many of Macedonia’s mountains are over 2500m, equivalent to the many alpine mountains.