Skopje is virtually unknown city with a charming name, the host of various interesting things to see and experience, along with acknowledging the rich history that it has. However, mostly untouched by tourists and travel writers, this unusual capital, remains wrapped in mystery.
Skopje is the largest city in FYR Macedonia and its political, economic and cultural center. It is located in the Skopje area, on both banks of the Vardar River and at an altitude of about 245 meters. It is the major crossroad of the railway and car - traffic on the highway Belgrade - Nis - Thessaloniki - Athens, which gives it a special importance in the Balkans.
For the first time it was mentioned around 150, under the name Scupi - it was an ancient settlement located near the village Bardovac, at the northwest of today’s Skopje, where they excavated the remains of various constructions, especially of the theater. In 518, it was wiped out by a catastrophic earthquake that totally destroyed 24 cities. A new settlement was built a few miles away towards the southeast. It is believed that this was a Byzantine Iustiana Prima, built by the Emperor Justinian I in honor of his birthplace. Under the present Slavic name that carries from the arrival of the Slavs in the 7th century, it was mentioned in historical sources for the first time in 1019.
This city has really rich history - it was occupied by Serbian ruler Nemanja, but it became part of the Serbian state in 1282, under King Milutin. King Dusan was crowned as an emperor there in 1346, and in 1349, was proclaimed his Code. Emperor Dusan moved the capital of the Kingdom of Serbia in Skopje. After him, it was kept by King Vukasin and Vuk Brankovic. The Turks captured it in 1392, and held until 1912. Since it was an important religious and military center, they burned Skopje to the ground. Realizing its strategic importance, the Turks established a large military force in the city that attracted many traders. That’s when Skopje became big with important military, commercial and cultural center. Between 1382 and 1453, Skopje was a European base of Ottoman sultans. In the 17th century, Turkish writer Evliya Celebi visited Skopje twice and noted that the city had 70 hamams (baths), 120 mosques, 110 fountains and a large bazaar almost like the one in Istanbul.
Unfortunately, except for the rich, Skopje had a rather unfortunate history - in 1555, it was again razed to the ground after an earthquake and after that followed a new restoration. However, in 1689, it was burned during the conquest and withdrawal of Austrian troops under General Piccolomini. Piccolomini wrote down that, during the conquest across the European part of Turkey they have never seen such a beautiful city as Skopje. But, aware of its strategic importance, he wanted to hurt the Turks and had to burn it to the ground. After this event it was restored, but now there are very few remains of the old fortress and the old town. It’s unfortunate fate was confirmed by the earthquake on July 26th 1963. The strength of nine degrees by MCS scale killed 1070 people and injured over 3000; destroyed or severely damaged about four fifths of housing 1670 factory buildings and 8% of manufacturing equipment. Help was provided, not only from the whole Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but also from 87 more countries (Romanians built a hospital, Poles the Museum of Contemporary Art, etc.) and special assistance indicated the UN and other international organizations. This time, the reconstruction of the destroyed city was committed to the principles of non-seismic architecture, based on a new master plan adopted in 1965, which provided the construction of a new, modern city.
During the First and Second Balkan War in 1912 and 1913, Macedonia was finally liberated from the Ottomans and divided between Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia.
During the Second World War, Macedonia was occupied by Bulgarian and Italian forces. Until 1943, Skopje was the seat of the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of Yugoslavia (CPY-a), Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth and the General Staff of Macedonia. Despite invasions and terror of the Bulgarian occupier, the party organization was continuously operating. In September 1943, the Steering Committee was formed to establish ASNOM in Action Committee of HOF Macedonia.
In the fighting that led to the liberation of Skopje on November 13th 1944, the city's population actively took place and afterwards the first People's Government of Macedonia was formed. The comprehensive development of Skopje in the postwar period, which led to its transformation from a craft - trade place with significant oriental features to a modern metropolis with developed industry and other economic activities, rapid population growth, urban reconstruction and construction followed by territorial expansion, was temporarily interrupted by the already mentioned earthquake in 1965.
With the realization of a new urban plan in 1965, Skopje became not only one of the capitals of the modern republic of SFR Yugoslavia, but also its third largest city, thanks to the intense influx of people from all over Macedonia.
In the referendum on September 08th 1991, over 95% of Macedonians voted for the declaration of an independent state. In 1993, Macedonia became a member of the UN. Under the pressure from Greece, the country became officially known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. On March 22nd 2004, Macedonia submitted the request for membership in the European Union. The status of candidate for membership was approved in September 2005.
Some of the most important institutions in Skopje are the University "Cyril and Methodius", the Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Macedonian folk Theater, the Drama Theatre, the Philharmonic, the National University Library, the Archives of Macedonia, the Skopje Historical Archives, the Seismological Observatory, museums (Archaeological, Ethnographic, Historical, City of Skopje, etc.).
There are also numerous cultural - historical monuments: the Fortress Kale from 6th century, the Stone Bridge over the river Vardar and aqueduct from the 15th century, the Daut - Pasha Hamam, Kuršumli - han and the Clock - Tower (all from the 15th and 16th centuries), the church of St. Saviour in 17th/18th century, old downtown and others.
Gallery
