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SKOP J E
FEATURE
The city is undergoing rapid change. Skopje 2014
is an ambitious – and controversial – urban renewal
project that will see the reconstruction of many of the
landmarks destroyed by the 1963 earthquake. Almost
40 new buildings and statues are either already under
construction or are planned as part of a facelift aimed
at revitalising the city and boosting tourism.
In the hot summer months Skopje residents often
head south to Lake Ohrid, attracted by its cool waters
and relaxed vacation vibe. The journey there takes
about three hours by car and passes through dramatic
scenery, with bears and wolves hiding out among the
hills, ravines and forests. Lake Ohrid is reputedly home
to 365 holy sites, including the church of St Sofia, with
its 11th-century frescoes, and the 13th-century St John
Church, in the shape of a cruciform or cross, perched
on the cliffs overlooking the lake. The town of Ohrid
itself has a lively community of artists and craftspeople,
and every July and August hosts the Ohrid Festival.
Concerts, recitals and plays are held in the Roman
amphitheatre, fortress and various churches.
One of Macedonia’s greatest treasures, a stunning
golden death mask made in the 1st millennium BC, is in
Ohrid. It was unearthed during an archaeological dig
“The Ottoman
Turks bequeathed
a rich cultural and
architectural legacy”
MUCH OF THE CARŠIJA
AREA SURVIVED THE
EARTHQUAKE OF 1963.
BELOW:
THE STONE BRIDGE
GETTY
JUNE-JULY 2012
WIZZ MAGAZINE
67