| Scopia Skopje | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | North Macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 240 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 571.46 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 544.086 (2015) | |
| Prefix tel | 389 02 | |
| POSTAL CODE | МК-10 00 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Skopje (in Italian Scopia, Scupi) is the capital of the North Macedonia.
To know
Skopje is the capital and most populous city of North Macedonia. More than a quarter of the population is concentrated here and for this reason it is the economic, political and cultural center of the nation. Like all of North Macedonia, Skopje is a crossroads of cultures and religions. The city is located along the Vadar river and is crossed by one of the main roads of the Balkans, which connects central Europe to Athens.
How to orient yourself
Skopje: full screen map.Neighborhoods
- 1 Debar Maalo (Дебар Маало) - Built around 1920, Debar Maalo is now an upmarket neighborhood with wide boulevards lined with clubs of all kinds, from restaurants to night clubs.
How to get
By plane
International airport
- 2 Skopje International Airport (IATA: SKP). The national airline, the Macedonian Airlines[link not working] (MAT) operates flights from Rome is Catania.
- Other companies operating at Skopje airport are:
- Austrian Airlines - From / to Vienna
- Bulgaria Air - From / to Sofia
- Croatia Airlines - From / to Split, Zagreb
- Czech Airlines - From / to Prague
- Eurowings - From / to Colony/Bonn
- Helvetic Airways - From / to Zurich
- Montenegro Airlines - From / to Podgorica, Tivat (seasonal only)
- Turkish Airlines - Istanbul-Atatürk
On the train
The train and suburban bus station photographed from Mount Vodno
- 3 Skopje station, Boulevard Kuzman Josifovski Pitu.
By bus
- Suburban bus station (Avtobuska stanica, Автобуска станица). The terminus is under the railway station viaduct.
How to get around
What see
Civil and military architectures
- 1 Stone bridge (Kamen Most / Камен мост). The symbol of Skopje is this 15th century stone bridge that connects the old town to the new one. It counts 12 arches and today is reserved for pedestrian traffic only.
- 2 Ancient municipal building (Стара Градска Куќа).
- 3 Door Macedonia (Порта Македонија), ☎ 389 02 3151 141, @[email protected]. A triumphal arch erected in 2011 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the independence of North Macedonia. It is 21m tall. and is decorated with marble bas-reliefs depicting salient episodes of the town's history. It is possible to climb to the top of the monument thanks to an elevator. The ticket is cumulative with the entrance ticket to the Macedonian wrestling museum.
- 4 [link not working]Skopje Fortress (Скопско Кале).
Religious architectures
Skopje Mosque
- 5 Mustafa Paša Mosque. It is the largest and most opulent mosque in the city, built in 1492.
- 6 Church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas).
Museums
- 7 Macedonia Museum (Музеј на Македонија), Curciska 86. To immerse yourself in Macedonian history and traditions.
- 8 National Gallery of Macedonia (Национална Галерија на Македониј), Krusvevska 14. Permanent exhibition dedicated to Macedonian art from the fourteenth century.
- 9 Mother Teresa house museum. Dedicated to the most famous town in Skopje, Gondza Bojadziu born here in 1910.
- 10 Civic Museum. Set up in the former train station, once considered the most beautiful in the Balkans. The building was destroyed in the disastrous earthquake of 1963. The clock is stopped at 5:17, the time when the earthquake occurred.
Events and parties
- Skopje Jazz Festival. Jazz music festival held in October.
- Skopsko Leto. Art exhibitions, events and shows in the summer.
- [link not working]Tacirat Festival. Rock music festival held in December.
What to do
Shopping
- Old Bazaar (Bezisten / Безистен). Lively and animated market, still overflowing with small artisans, tailors, cobblers and quilt makers, as in the past.
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- Mount Vodno. Mount Vodno is located near the village of Gorno Nerezi, just 8 km from Skopje. On the top there is: 1) the Monastery of San Pantaleimon dating back to 1164. Worth seeing for the beautiful Byzantine style architecture and the frescoes it houses; 2) the Millennium Cross built as a 2000 year memorial of Christianity in North Macedonia and around the world. Construction of the cross began in 2000, funded by the Orthodox Church, the Macedonian government and donations from around the world. An elevator is installed inside the cross and in 2011 a 3.5 meter long cable car was opened that connects it with the city. At night the cross lights up and shines over the city.
- Matka Canyon. It is located 20 km from Skopje. Beautiful lush landscape dotted with caves that house 4 monasteries. You can go kayaking, boating and hiking.
