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| Hotel
Victoria in Skopje |
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119th CIA Winter Congress will be held at the Hotel Victoria
in Skopje from January 18-20, 2008. The Hotel Victoria
is located on the foot of Vodno mountain, only 500 meters
from the city center in tranquil and quiet surroundings.
The Hotel offers a Restaurant, covered in Parking, 24
hour Reception desk, Breakfast Hall and all rooms have
Internet Connection available. The price of the room
includes Breakfast, and the hotel offers complimentary
airport connections.
Citizens
of most countries do not require a Visa to visit Macedonia.
You can check online if your nationality is required
to have a visa at: http://macedonia.visahq.com
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Hotel Victoria
str.Slave Delovski No.18
1000, Skopje, Macedonia
Phone: +389 2 3107600
Fax: +389 2 3107610
Contact E-mail: hotelvictoriaskopje1@yahoo.com
Hotel
Web Address: www.hotelvictoria.com.mk
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Single
Room: 70 Euro |
Double Room: 90 Euro |
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| Welcome
to Skopje, Macedonia |
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View
to downtown Skopje
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Icons
at the church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas) (17th
c.)
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Skopje
is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Macedonia.
It lies on the upper course of the Vardar river and is located
on a major north - south Balkan route between Beograd and Athens.
The city of Skopje has been for the first time mentioned by
Claudius Ptolomeius, under its ancient name of Skupi. In the
2nd century B.C. Skupi was founded by the Romans. In this period,
the city experienced real bloom on several fields, it became
a large religious center with its own bishop. In the year of
518 the city was destroyed by a disastrous earthquake. Wonderful
architectonic buildings, numerous public baths and the ancient
amphitheater built in a roman style, large basilica with mosaic
floors have completely disappeared from the earth’s face.
Since then Scupi is not mentioned any more. The Skopje valley
got a new city center called "Justinijana Prima".
By the end of the VI th century, in front of the ramparts of
the city the Slavic people have showed up, which managed to
occupy and to slovenize it for a period of only one century.
This area was settled by the Slavic tribe Berziti and gives
the city the new name Skopje.
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Stone
Bridge in Skopje (above and below)
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During the existence of the first Macedonian state and the Macedonian
Tsar Samoil, the city becomes part of the Samoil’s empire.
In the later years a lot of conquerors have passed through the
streets of the city, Bulgarians, Byzantium's, Serbians. In the
year of 1392, the city falls under the Turkish rule. Up to 1453
Skopje was a throne of the Turkish sultans and later it developed
in a significant craftsmen and commercial center. A lot of authors
who write about their travels have expressed their delight from
the city. The Turkish writer Dilger Zede who has visited the
city in the 17th century says, "I traveled for a long time
across that country of Rumelija and I saw a lot of beautiful
cities and I was amazed from the Allah blessings, but not one
has impressed and delighted me so much as the heavens city of
Skopje across which passes the river Vardar".
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On 25th of October 1689 in front of the city gates, arrives
the Austrian general Picolomini with its army. An event with
an outstanding significance for Skopje. "I decided to burn
the city in order not to leave the enemy something that could
be of use to him . Although it is not easy, I decided to turn
the city into ashes". From the hillsides of the Vodno mountain,
Pikolomini was observing the fire: "I am sorry for the
houses such as I have not seen at all in this war. The mosques
are from the highest quality marble and porphyry, decorated
with thousands lamps on a golden plated holders, which one would
devote equal attention even in Rome. I feel sorry for the nice
antiquities, gardens and places for entertainment." The
fire was raging for two days and except the massive stone buildings,
the city was completely destroyed. Up until the half of the
19th century, the city could not recover back its previous appearance
in front of which the numerous people who write about their
traveling have stopped with a delight.In the 19th century, the
city becomes an important traffic center.
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Millennium
Cross in Skopje
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Moving towards the countries from the middle east, Napoleon
has found out the road through Skopje. A lot of merchants
with their endless caravans loaded with various goods have
been passing through the city. In this period the city reaches
the biggest development of the handicrafts. Later, Skopje
begins to change its appearance. After the First World War
on the right side of the river Vardar a modern city has been
built. 26th of July 1963 is remembered as the longest day
in the history of the city. Strong earthquake, of two severe
and a few weaker shocks, turned the city into ruins. Numerous
cultural monuments were seriously damaged or erased from the
face of the earth. Some of the houses built immediately after
the tragic event are shown in the forefront. Skopje was rebuilt
since then and the new residential quarters bear little resemblance
with old Skopje. Many international architects participated
in it reconstruction. According to the idea of the Japanese
urban planner Kenzo Tanga, the center was given a "city
wall" of high - rise buildings, while the banks of the
Vardar were laid out as pleasant tree - lined promenades.
The ancient trading quarter (carsija) has been completely
renovated, but has preserved all the notable features of its
original architecture. In this setting the old buildings of
cultural and historical interest are seen to even better advantage.
They include the Kale Fortress raised in the 6th century (its
present appearance dates from the Turkish period), Daut -
Pasha's baths (15th century, now the Art Gallery), and Mustafa
- pasha's mosque (15th c). The 19th century iconostasis of
the church of the Holy Savior (Sveti Spas) (17th c.) in Skopje,
carved in walnut, combines a profusion of plant and animal
motifs with the figures of saints in local costumes. This
realistic high-relief carving is the work of skilful craftsmen
of the Debar area, who included their own figures in one corner
of the iconostasis. The iconostasis at Holy Savior church
is one of the finest samples of traditional woodcarving which
can be found on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia
along with the iconostasis of St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery.
On the slopes of nearby Mt. Vodno stands the famous church
of St. Pantelejmon from 1164, decorated with frescoes of exceptional
artistic value.
Today
Skopje has around 700,000 citizens. It is the administrative
and political center of the Republic of Macedonia. Industries
in the city include iron and steel works, electrical machinery,
chemicals, textiles, carpets, and foodstuffs. Skopje is a
trading center for the cotton, tobacco, grains, and livestock
produced in the surrounding region as well. Besides the Belgrade-Athens
highway and railway routes, region as well. Besides the Belgrade-Athens
highway and railway routes, the city also has the largest
airport in the Republic of Macedonia. You can reach Skopje
by train, car or air. The first train that arrived in Skopje
was from Solun in the distant year of 1873. Also the first
railway line in Macedonia was that from Solun-Gevgelija-Veles-Skopje.
Skopje
plays a vital part in the cultural and the academic life of
the country. It is the home of Macedonian Academy of Science
and Arts, the SS. Cyril and Methodius University, the National
and University Library, the Macedonian National Theatre and
its Drama, Opera and Ballet companies, the Drama Theatre,
the Theatre of Nationalities, the Philharmonic of Macedonia,
Macedonian Radio and Television and Nova Makedonija, the largest
newspaper and publishing house. There are also the Archives
of Macedonia, the Museums of Macedonia (archeological, ethnological
and historical), the Natural history Museum, the Museum of
Contemporary Art, several art galleries and other important
cultural and scientific institutions.
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Mother
Teresa Sculpture (she was born in Skopje)
August 27, 1910 - September 5, 1997
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The
Millennium Cross
situated on Vodno mountain overlooking Skopje
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| Tentitive
Schedule of Events |
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The
Ortodox Cathedral "St. Clement of Ohrid"
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Skojpe
Emblem
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Thursday
- January 17, 2008
- all
day - arrivals to Macedonia
- all day
- free time for visiting Skojpe
Friday
- January 18, 2008
Saturday
- January 19, 2008
Sunday
- January 20, 2008
Monday
- January 21, 2008
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The
Kale Fortress
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St.
Painteleimon Church
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| Sightseeing
in Skojpe |
Clock
Tower (Saat Kula): Clock Tower is a Turkish building
found east of the famous and oldest market place of Skopje,
Bitpazar. It stands in the forecourt of Hjuncar - the mosque
of Sultan Murat II. It is a hexagonal monument built in the
16th century. The clock mechanism was brought from Hungary after
the capture of the town of Siged by the Turks. Many travelers
mention the clock tower in their journals as a large and important
building in Skopje and add that its sound can be heard several
kilometers away.After the great fire in 1689, when the tower
was seriously damaged it had to be repaired. Some alternations
were made in 1904, and during the 1963rd earthquake it was seriously
damaged in addition to the Hjunkar mosque.
Feudal Tower: Makes part of the House of ARM,
the unique preserved monument in the new part of the city. The
time when it was built and the one who built it are not known.
Most probably it is a feudal tower of some Turkish bay. Today
it is in good conditions.
Daut Pasha's Bath: This project is one of the
most prominent monuments of the Islamic profane architecture.
The Turkish bath was built by the grand vizier of Rumelia, Daut
Pasha in the 15thV century. In the first time it was used for
the needs of its harem, and later it served as a public bath.
Today, the Turkish bath is turned into an art gallery with a
wide choice of Macedonian icons of the 14th to the 19th century,
collective works of Macedonian artists - pictures, sculptures,
graphics, and drawings and more recently in the rooms of the
Turkish bath also concerts are held, promotions of books, theater
performances with chamber orchestra etc.
Kuršumli An: In the sources, Kursumli an
is mentioned as a memorial of Mula Musledin Hodza. Kursumli
An acts impressively and delightfully with its monumentality,
decoratively built walls and the numerous domes in shape of
pyramids. Today, the complex of the Museum of Macedonia is located
within the Turkish bath. The Yard of Kursumli-an during the
summer period is being used for organizing of cultural manifestations:
dramatic performances, concerts, literature readings…
The Aqueduct: On 2 kilometers north-west from
Skopje, the aqueduct was built of stone and bricks with 55 arches
supported on massive pillars. For the building of the aqueduct
there were shared opinions in the science. According some scientists
it was a Romanian aqueduct whereas according to others it was
a Byzantium building. The last scientific researches connect
the building of the aqueduct with Isa bey, which means that
it was built during the time of the Turkish rule and more precisely
in 16th century. Aqueducts in former Yugoslavia were only three
one in Macedonia and two in Montenegro.
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The
Stone Bridge
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The Stone Bridge: According to certain data the bridge
was built in the 6th century, whereas in its present form it
was raised upon the old foundation in the time of the Sultan
Murat II in the first half of the 15th century. It was built
of well worked out stone blocks and has 12 semicircular arches.
This monumental building has undergone larger repairs through
the centuries, but today the bridge has still kept the primary
shape and form.
The Kale Fortress: This fortress has the dominant
place in the city. It was built of stone blocks from the ruins
of the city of Scupi, during the rule of the Byzantium Emperor
Justinijan the 1st. The ramparts of the Skopsko Kale are 121
meter long and today one square, one rectangular and one round
tower are saved. The great complex since 1392 was stationarity
of the Turkish army until 1913, when the Skopje falls under
Serbian authority. And in the period from 1913 to 1953 here
was settled the Yugoslav army. Today in the space of the fortress
is an arranged park, which serves for recreation and fun, and
in the evening hours besides the sounds of the Macedonian folks
music, the visitors have a wonderful view on the city and the
river Vardar from there.
Time of the Earthquake: 5:17 am -- The clock in
the preserved ruins of the old railway station remained frozen
at 5:17 am, the moment that the predawn earthquake turned Skopje
into landfill.
Mustafa Pasha's Mosque: In the vicinity of Kursumli-an,
in the old part of the city this monument of the Islamic culture
attracts the attention with its size and beauty. The mosque
was built by Mustafa Pasha in 1519, the vizier of the Sultan
Selim I. Particularly attractive part of this building is the
tall minaret, made of cut stone, whereas the expanded part is
decorated with ornaments.
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The
Old Skopje Bazaar
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Old Skopje Bazaar: On the left side of the river Vardar
, in the ancient part of Skopje is the old Skopje bazaar. Up
to the present time the bazaar has experienced several changes
in respect of the appearance and the organization, but it has
still kept the spirit of the past. In the small innumerable
handicraft shops, the Skopje`s handicraftsmen can still be seen,
tailors, cobbler, quilt makers, shoe makers, tinsmiths etc.
The old market place is still alive and full with a vivid atmosphere
which radiates from the small shops, coffee and tea rooms which
are always full with tourists which are delighted from the appearance
and the life of this part of the city.
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Kozjak,
Macedonia (above and below)
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| Contact
Information |
President:
Zorica Karakutovska
Vice President: Elizabeta Ilievska
Secretary: Biljana Mladenovska
Public Relations Manager: Anica Karakutovska
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Association of Accordionists - MACEDONIA
"Ljubiteli na klasicnata muzika" - Skopje
Bul."Jane
Sandanski" 50/1-3
1000 Skopje,
Republic of Macedonia
Phone:
+389 2 245 01 98
Mobile Phone: +389 70 244 975
E-mail: anica2206@yahoo.com
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Lake
Matka near Skopje
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