Eastern Macedonia

Skopje

Enjoy the diversity of the Old Bazaar (Stara Carshija), which is one of the best preserved examples of the urban Ottoman architecture. Separated from the city by the Stone bridge and bordering the Kale Fortress, besides being full of restaurants, coffee bars, churches, mosques and museums, it is a real community of craftsmen creating with leather, copper and clay and selling jewelry and clothes. In addition, pay respect to the Noble Prize winner Mother Theresa by visiting her Memorial House where part of her relics are preserved, and enjoy the classical appearance of Skopje 2014 by sightseeing the classical government buildings and the monuments depicting historical characters.

Kokino/Kuklici

Near the village of Kokino, there is an ancient archaeological site known as Ancient Observatory Kokino that dates back to the Bronze Age. This site is said “to contain a megalithic observatory and a sacred site”. On the other hand, Kuklici (The Stone Dolls) represent a real wonder of nature, which was created by erosion, wind and other climate influences. There are 148 stone figures in total and they all resemble actual people. The legend says that many years ago, there was a young man from the nearby village who fell in love with two girls. The first one was one very rich but not so beautiful and the second one was beautiful but very poor. He was pretty unsure of whom of the two girls to marry, and he made arrangements for a wedding with both of them on the same day. When the day came, the beautiful and poor girl heard the drums and music from the wedding and wondered why they did not come to her house. When she came down the valley and saw her beloved with the rich girl she cursed everyone by saying: “Let God turn every one of you into stones, even myself”, and when the groom kissed the bride everyone turned into stone. Ever since, each Stone Doll has been called under a different title: bride, groom, best man, cousins, etc.

Berovo

Berovo is a town with the highest concentration of oxygen on the Balkans. The relief is predominantly mountainous, and the flat areas are situated around the riverbeds of the Bregalnica river that makes this town perfect for both summer and winter vacation. It is famous for the first church built in 1818 that later became a female monastery of St. Archangel Michael and the Berovo museum where the first national school was open. If you happen to be there on the 28th of August, you won’t miss the Ethno Square Festival, which is the most famous festival in the whole region. Not very far from Berovo is the wonderful Berovo lake surrounded with pine trees that rests ones eyes and leaves a feeling of peace.

Vodocha/ Veljusa

The monastery complex of Vodocha consists of 3 churches (East, West and Central) and therefore, reflects the rich spiritual and cultural life shown on this territory. Due to archaeological excavations, over 1000 graves with jewelry and ceramics dating back to XIV-XIX century have been discovered in the complex. On the other hand, the monastery church in Veljusa has kept its original and unique Byzantine architecture. It is famous for the fresco technique, mosaic and sculpture engraved in the shallow relief of the marble parts of the iconostas.

Koleshino/Smolare

Once you visit the Koleshino and Smolare Falls, you will want to come back again. These magic waterfalls surrounded by amazing living nature such as green vegetation and sound of different kinds of birds will definitely be an enjoyment and a recharge of your batteries.

Demir Kapija

This picturesque region is a true heaven for the mountaineers and the alpinists. The mystical natural beauty of the Kozuv mountain and the sound of the Vardar river make it a unique place to visit during any time of the year. The most significant place to visit in this area is the Bela Voda Cave (White Water Cave) that represents the longest horizontal speleological object with its stunning lake at the end. Paying a visit to the Popova Kula Winery is the best way to taste the wine produced in this area and enjoy the magnificent nature that surrounds it.

Veles

Veles is an industrial center and a city of poetry, culture, history and tradition at the same time. It is also known as the home of Koco Racin, an author considered as a founder of the modern Macedonian literature. People call Veles an open-air museum, as it is a place where you can find a lot of monuments and memorial houses. From the famous Clock Tower, the Boatmen’s monument and Kosturnica, an eternal home of hundreds of soldiers who died for their peoples’ freedom, right to the Mladost Lake which one of the most visited artificial lakes and popular tourist destinations.