Skopje Aqueduct – A Hidden Historical Gem Near Skopje

The Skopje Aqueduct is an impressive archaeological site located just 2 km northwest of Skopje, in the Republic of North Macedonia. It holds a unique place in the region’s heritage as the only surviving aqueduct in Macedonia, and one of just three remaining in the former Yugoslavia.

A Mystery of Origins

The exact origins of the Skopje Aqueduct remain uncertain. Some theories suggest that it may have been constructed by the Romans, while others propose it was built in the 16th century under the Ottoman Empire, potentially to supply water to the city’s public baths.

What Remains Today

Today, 55 stone arches of this historic aqueduct still stand proudly — a remarkable testament to centuries of engineering and resilience. Whether Roman or Ottoman in origin, the Skopje Aqueduct is a must-see for visitors interested in ancient infrastructure, history, and cultural landmarks.

Skopje Fortress – Kale: The Historic Heart of Skopje

The Skopje Fortress – Kale holds the most prominent position in the central area of the city of Skopje. It stands on the long ridge of sediment sandstone that stretches along the east bank of the Vardar River, running north to south on its southernmost, most elevated point.

The entire cultural and political history of Skopje is intricately connected to this location. Settlement at this site began as early as prehistoric times, particularly during the Eneolithic Age. From that point, through the Bronze and Iron Ages, the area experienced varying intensities of settlement up until the establishment of Roman rule in Macedonia.

A Medieval Stronghold With Deep Roots

This area reached peak settlement during the medieval period, functioning as the Upper Town of medieval Skopje. Over time, it was reconstructed during the Ottoman conquest and has remained in use to this day.

In total, at least three prehistoric settlements (Eneolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age) and three medieval to Ottoman settlements (from the 10th to the 20th centuries) were established here.

Ancient Finds and Cultural Layers

The earliest finds from the Skopje Fortress date to the Copper Age (Eneolithic), around the 4th millennium BC. Remains include mud huts, semi-subterranean structures, cult buildings, and clay-lined storage or waste pits. During the Bronze Age, life continued in a concentrated area of the northeast fortress, where evidence such as dwelling structures, ceramic kilns, and other materials was uncovered.

Medieval Heritage and Ottoman Influence

By the 13th century, Skopje’s Upper Town had evolved into a fortified urban hub. The ramparts were rebuilt, encircling a new city center fortified with outer walls and a Lower Town (suburbium).

On the fortress’s highest southeastern point, archaeologists discovered a cross-shaped church and a necropolis, alongside historical records referencing other churches that stood within the fortress walls.

In 1391, Skopje fell to the Ottomans, who destroyed parts of the city and its ramparts. The fortress was then repurposed into military barracks, and numerous structures and cultural artifacts from this period illustrate its changing function.

Markovi Kuli – Medieval Majesty Above Prilep

The site of Markovi Kuli, the most visible remnant among the mediaeval monuments in the Republic of Macedonia, stands on the granite rocks on the north periphery of the city of Prilep, above the suburbium of Varoš. Markovi Kuli and its suburbium Varoš were an important mediaeval social, economic, and cultural centre, whose historical development can be traced through material evidence and historical records.

The fortress and the name of Prilep are first mentioned in written historical records in the short history by Iona Skilica and in the sigillions of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II in the early 11th century. The first archaeological explorations of Markovi Kuli and its suburbium, as well as of the area of the present-day settlement of Varoš, began in 1958. These excavations revealed that this site was settled without interruptions over an extended period of time.

Remains from the Late Neolithic to the 19th century have been discovered on the granite rocks of Markovi Kuli, its suburbium, and Varoš. The most impressive material evidence from the mediaeval period on this site are the remains of the three rampart walls that surrounded the fortress of Markovi Kuli, the structure with which the present-day city of Prilep is identified, and whose hallmark it has become.

Spiritual Center of Medieval Macedonia

After the fall of Samoil’s state, in the 11th century and in the first half of the 12th century, the settlement from Markovi Kuli was relocated at the foot of the massif and to Varoš, in the area of and around the churches of St. Nicholas, St. Demetrius, and St. Athanasius.

From the mid-12th century, under the influence of Byzantine building styles, the builders in the settlement under Markovi Kuli began using stone, brick, and sun-dried brick, with clay and lime mortar as binding materials. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, feudal castles were built on its west and south terraces.

Among these structures, one unit has been explored, with remnants of a residential building, an auxiliary structure, a stable, a blacksmith’s workshop, and a castle chapel. The 12th, and especially the 13th and 14th centuries, are marked by intensive construction of sacral structures.

In the area of medieval Prilep and Varoš, several churches were built, which testify to the city under Markovi Kuli being an important spiritual center in Macedonia.

Markovi Kuli, the spacious terraces of its suburbium, and the settlement of Varoš reflect life in the prominent medieval city of Prilep, which reached its full bloom in the second half of the 13th century and the first half of the 14th century.

After the death of King Marko in the late 14th century, life in the city under Markovi Kuli gradually ceased, and a new settlement was formed on the northeast edge of the Pelagonija Valley.

Heraclea Lyncestis – The Antique Jewel of Bitola

The Antique city of Heraclea Lyncestis is situated on the south side of the city of Bitola, in its immediate vicinity. The antique ruins of Heraclea provoked scholarly interest in the early 19th century. Diplomatic representatives were especially active in this domain, and this site was an important part of their daily activity.

The favourable geographic features and historical circumstances contributed to the superiority of Heraclea during the Antique period. The city lies in a fertile plain, in the ancient region of Lyncestis, protected from the north by Mt. Baba and the small river Siva Voda on the south.

A Key Stop on Ancient Trade Routes

From time immemorial, a road (the road of Candavia) led through Heraclea which, during the Roman period, substituted the most famous road of the classical epoch, the Via Egnatia that linked the Adriatic and Aegean coasts.

It was recorded as an important stop in a number of itineraria, such as:

• Itinerarium Antonini

• Itinerarium Birdigalense

• Tabula Peutingeriana

• and the anonymous geographer of Ravenna, who refers to it as a stop on the road Heraclea–Stobi.

Heraclea in the Macedonian and Roman Era

The emergence of this important city in Antique Macedonia is linked with Philip II of Macedonia, in the mid-4th century B.C. Towards the middle of the 2nd century, the Romans conquered Macedonia and turned it into a province, dividing it into four regions. Heraclea, which became part of the fourth region, still experienced a degree of prosperity.

In the first three centuries of the new era, it acquired the status of a Roman colony. This is confirmed by an inscription on a marble base from the 3rd century AD, referencing Septimia Aurelia Heraclea.

Notable Roman structures discovered include:

• Thermae (Roman baths)

• Portico of the Court House, with a framed inscription from Hesiod’s Works and Days

• The Theatre, a small but masterfully built structure, based on Vitruvian principles, holding about 2,500 spectators with a Nemesion above the uppermost row.

Heraclea as an Episcopal Stronghold

Heraclea reached its peak during its Christian era, becoming a prominent Episcopal See. Mentioned bishops from the 4th to 6th centuries AD—Eugarius, Quintilius, and Benignus—participated in important church councils.

Important Christian architectural landmarks:

• The Small Basilica

• The Great Basilica

• The Episcopal Residence

• The City Fountain, built by Bishop John during the 35th anniversary of Emperor Justinian’s reign

The Mesmerizing Mosaics of Heraclea

Perhaps the most mystifying and impressive feature of Heraclea are its floor mosaics, done in tessalatum and sectile techniques, covering approx. 1,300 m².

While all mosaics in Heraclea are uniquely beautiful, the masterpiece of Early Christian art is the floor mosaic in the narthex of the Great Basilica. It is a genuine testimony to Christian faith, using symbolic language to depict the alphabet of the early Christian religious system.

The Decline of Heraclea

Despite its glory, Heraclea’s Golden Age was short-lived. The onset of barbarism, marked by Avar and Slavic invasions, disrupted the urban life of this flourishing city. Although the invaders did not settle in Heraclea, their presence scattered communities and ended centuries of continuous urban tradition.

Makedonium – Monument of Freedom and Revolution in Kruševo 

Makedonium is a monument in Kruševo, Republic of Macedonia. It was officially opened on August 2, 1974, marking:

• the 30th anniversary of the Second Session of the Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia, and

• the 71st anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising.

Dedicated to the Macedonian Struggle for Freedom

It is dedicated to all the fighters and revolutionaries who participated in:

• the Ilinden Uprising of 1903, and

• the Macedonia National Liberation Struggle (1941–1944).

Monument Design and Symbolism

The monument grounds cover 12 acres.
The building features a rounded shape with protruding oval windows. The upper windows are made of stained glass, creating a dramatic visual effect both inside and outside the structure.

Interior: Tomb, Busts & Historical Orientation

Inside the dome lies the tomb of Nikola Karev, president of the Kruševo Republic, and a bust of the beloved singer Toše Proeski.
The interior of the dome includes four windows, each facing a direction tied to Ilinden-related historical sites:

• “Sliva” Memorial

• Bear Stone

• Pelagonija

• and other symbolic locations of the Macedonian resistance.

Sculptures, Crypt, and Amphitheater

The memorial complex also features:

• A plateau with a series of sculptures titled “Breaking the Chains”, symbolizing the freedom earned in Macedonia’s liberation wars.

• A crypt, engraved with names and significant events related to the periods before, during, and after the Ilinden Uprising.

• An amphitheater, beautifully decorated with colorful mosaics, offering a space for reflection and public gatherings.

Plan Your Visit

Located in Kruševo, the Makedonium monument stands as one of Macedonia’s most powerful and visually iconic tributes to its long struggle for freedom, unity, and cultural identity.

Lychnidos – The Ancient Predecessor of Ohrid

A Glimpse into Macedonia’s Glorious Past During the Macedonian-Hellenistic Period

During the Macedonian-Hellenistic period in world history (from the late 4th to the 1st centuries B.C.), Lychnidos was a wealthy, urbanized city on the shores of White Lake (Lake Lychnidos), near the legendary Via Egnatia – one of the most important roads of the ancient world.

Necropolises of Deboj and Gorna Porta – Treasures Beneath the Surface

Two major necropolises—at Deboj (on the smaller eastern side of Ohrid Hill) and Gorna Porta (Upper Gate, north entrance to old Ohrid)—were explored during excavations in 1978–1979 and again from 2000 to 2002. These archaeological sites yielded a rich collection of:

• Gold and silver artifacts

• Bronze objects

• Ceramic pieces

These finds are now housed in the Gold Collection at the renowned Robevci Museum in Ohrid.

The Antique Theatre of Ohrid – From Antiquity to Modern Stage

The Antique Theatre, dating back to the 2nd century B.C., is located on the eastern slope of the upper Ohrid Hill, near Gorna Porta. It was adapted in the 2nd century A.D. to serve the entertainment needs of Roman society.

Today, it has been:
Excavated
Conserved
Opened to the public

It now serves as a stunning venue for cultural performances, reinforcing Ohrid’s role as Macedonia’s cultural capital.

A Window into the Afterlife: The Ancient Macedonian Tomb

Just west of the theatre, a fully preserved ancient Macedonian tomb offers a rare look into burial traditions of the time. It includes:

• A stepped entrance

• A dromos (corridor)

• An antechamber

• A main chamber

This tomb, dating from the late 4th or early 3rd century B.C., reveals the deep cultural and spiritual layers of ancient Ohrid.

The Fortress of Lychnidos – A Strategic Stronghold

The first written references to Lychnidos and its fortress come from the Antique historian Livius, dating to 209 B.C., during the reign of Macedonian King Philip V. This proves that, even in the late 3rd century B.C., the fortress was already a central stronghold in the decisive events of the city’s history.

Today, the ancient city of Lychnidos continues to live on in Ohrid, as a vibrant testament to Macedonia’s layered and powerful past.