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Skopje – Macedonia

We drove into Skopje, passing the Skopje Fortress which was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. After the 1963 Skopje earthquake, that destroyed 80% of the city, the fortress’s circular, rectangular and square towers were conserved and restored. It is today one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. We just had a quick look as we drove past. The option was to use your lunch time in racing over to the fortress and ‘Old Town’ to have a quick look, or stay in the town centre and casually eat at one of the many restaurants. We chose the latter.

Our view of the fortress from the bus window
Our view of the fortress from the bus window

In 2010, the Macedonian government launched the “Skopje 2014” project which aims to give a more monumental appearance to the capital. It made plans to erect a large number of statues, fountains, bridges, and museums at a cost of about €500 million. As we walked towards the town centre we saw many of these statues. Honestly, I thought the town had overdone it a bit. There were statues everywhere and often right next to each other!

I'm in front of the bridge filled with statues
I’m in front of the bridge filled with statues
Statues and lights on the bridge
Statues and lights on the bridge. I wonder if they are copying Rome?
Another view of the buildings, bridge and statues
Another view of the buildings, bridge and statues
This building has statues across the top
This building has statues across the top
Our tour party listening to our guide talking about the statues
Our tour party listening to our guide talking about the statues
Yes that's me on the bridge
Yes that’s me on the bridge
This is the old stone bridge built between 1461-1469. The statue of the women diving is at the base of the bridge
This is the old stone bridge built between 1461-1469. The statue of the women diving is at the base of the bridge
Statue of diving into the river?
Statue of diving into the river?
This statue looks like men of all sorts of trade?
This statue looks like men of all sorts of trade?
The statue and the old stone bridge... and me!
The statue and the old stone bridge… and me!
A shopping statue?
A shopping statue?
Warrior on a horse statue
Warrior on a horse statue

There are several landmarks of Mother Teresa in Skopje, the city of her birth and childhood, including a marker of her birthplace, a statue, and a memorial house. As of January 2013, Macedonian authorities laid the ground work for a new 30-metre-high statue dedicated to the Nobel Prize-winning nun.

The Mother Thereza memorial plaque
The Mother Thereza memorial plaque

And after our walk through the many statues we have lunch.

Waiting for our lunch
Waiting for our lunch

So Skopje was really only our lunch spot. There were many more sights we could have seen. There was on Old Town to discover and also a very old Aqueduct and of course the Fortress, but time was against us, as we had Sofia yet to explore.

So onwards we go!!!

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