Eight Great Places To Visit In The Republic Of Macedonia
When seeking a great vacation experience, one of the best ways to find it is by traveling to an interesting foreign country. By immersing one’s self in the culture of a foreign land, a vacationer can have a travel experience unlike any other. These types of experiences are few and far between and should be cherished whenever they can be had.
A trip to the Republic of Macedonia offers just one of these types of experiences. Macedonia is home to interesting cities, thick forests, beautiful lakes, imposing mountains, and an incredible history that dates back thousands of years. When visiting Macedonia, there are great things to do and see every where, but here are eight of the top destinations and attractions that are recommended for travelers heading there. If you do plan to visit Macedonia, use a service such as expedia. Expedia is one of the most competitive sites for travel. Use an expedia coupon code for cheaper rates.
Lake Ohrid
Lake Ohrid is a fabulously beautiful lake that sits right on the Albania-Macedonia border. It offers a number of recreational activities including kayaking, swimming, boating, and fishing. It is also popular with those that just want to get away and enjoy a nice relaxing time on shores or surface of a gorgeous mountain lake.
The Samovodska Charshiya Complex
While there are more populated and popular areas to visit, the Samovodska Charshiya Complex is a quaint little community that allows visitors to see what real life is like in Macedonia. The community is filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, and historical attractions. Even a brief stop in Samovodska Charshiya Complex can add a great deal of value to a visit to Macedonia.
National Parks
Macedonia is proud of the many protected natural areas that are found within its borders, and justifiably so. The country has three national parks, each of which that offer many similar activities and scenery, but each that is unique in its own right. All not only feature stunning mountains, thick forests, and beautiful lakes, but also small villages and historical sites. The three parks are Galicica National Park, Mavrovo National Park, and Pelister National Park.
St. Jovan Kaneo
Sitting right on the shore of Lake Ohrid, St. Jovan Kaneo is a gorgeous small church that offers the beauty of its architecture and religious artifacts, but also offers a very serene and attractive scene of a small church set against a backdrop of rich forestland, beautiful mountains, and of course the waters of Lake Ohrid. There are a number of churches worth visiting in Macedonia, and even in the Ohrid area, but St. Jovan Kaneo is one of the most appreciated and sought out one in the area.
Lake Matka
Located very near the city of Skopje is Lake Matka. The lake has a remote appearance and definitely delivers the flavor of the great outdoors to those venturing to it, but it is extremely accessible thanks to regular taxi and bus service that goes there daily from the city. A number of activities can be participated in on Lake Matka including sailing, boating, swimming, kayaking, and more. Hiking along the shore is also a popular activity in the area.
Samuil’s Fortress
Located in old town Ohrid is an impressive ancient fortification known as Samuil’s Fortress. This fort was built during the rule of Samuil during the middle ages. It remains almost fully intact and is one of the most important tourist attractions in the region. The rock walls and towers are accessible by visitors and the experience of walking through a centuries old Eastern European castle/fort is something that will not soon be forgotten.
Heraclea
Located just south of the exciting city of Bitola, Heraclea allows visitors to get a feel for what life was like in the Macedonian area centuries ago. This Roman ruins is actually an ongoing archaeological excavation, yet is still open to the public in areas. Heraclea can be reached on foot or by bike from Bitola and the experience of seeing these structures and finds that date back two thousand or more years is unforgettable.
Sveti Sophia
The small church of Sveti Sophia, located right inside the city of Ohrid, is a very popular stop for travelers looking to see and experience the architecture and religious sites of Macedonia. The church was built over a long period of time, but most of the construction took place during the 11th and 12th centuries. There are several medieval frescoes available for viewing in the church and they are extremely popular with those that appreciate artwork and culture. A visit to Sveti Sophia is a great way to come away from a trip to Macedonia with an experience directly tied to an important slice of life in the region from centuries ago.
When contemplating visiting a foreign country, there are many places to choose from. If a traveler was looking for a country that offered a variety of things to do and see, and at the same time holds some great mysteries to explore too, they would be more than happy with their decision to vacation in beautiful Macedonia. It may not be the first vacation destination that comes to the minds of most people, but it is does offer a fulfilling trip for anyone who goes there.
Tags: hereclea, lake matka, lake ohrid, Macedonia, national parks, samovodska charshiya, samuil fortress, st jovan kaneo, sveti sophia, travel