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Скопје Skopje
Skyline of Skopje
Flag of Скопје Skopje Flag Official seal of Скопје Skopje Seal
Location of the city of Skopje (green) in Macedonia
Country	North Macedonia
Municipality	File:Flag of Skopje.png Greater Skopje
Government
• Mayor	Trifun Kostovski
Area
• City	1,854 km2 (716 sq mi)
Elevation	240 m (790 ft)
Population  (2004)
• City	506 926
• Density	273.422/km2 (105.568/sq mi)
• Metro	587.300
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
Postal codes	MK-1000
Area code	02
Website	skopje.gov.mk
Patron saint: Virgin Mary

Skopje (Macedonian: Скопје, [ˈskɔpje]^ⓘ; Albanian: Shkup, or Shkupi) is the capital and largest city in the Republic of Macedonia, with more than a quarter of the population of the country, as well as its political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. It was known from the Roman period under the name Scupi. The city developed rapidly after World War II, but this trend was interrupted in 1963 when it was hit by a disastrous earthquake. Today Skopje is a modern city with a wide range of cultural monuments.

Skopje is located at 42°0′N 21°26′E, on the upper course of the Vardar River and is located on a major north-south Balkan route between Belgrade and Athens. It has 506,926 inhabitants (2002 census), and is a major centre for metal-processing, chemical, timber, textile, leather, and printing industries. Industrial development of the city has been accompanied by development of the trade, logistics, and banking sectors, as well as an emphasis on the fields of culture and sport. Since the 1990s the city is emerging as a major transportation and logistics hub in Southeast Europe as the intersection of the two main European transport corridors - Corridor VIII (East-West) and Corridor X (North-South). This significance of the city has been enhanced by the construction of new highways on the two transversals, the new Skopje ring road, and the ongoing extension and modernization of Skopje Alexander the Great Airport.

Name

See also: other names of Skopje

In 1912, the name was officially changed from Uskub (the Turkish name for Skopje) to Skoplje (the Serbian name for Skopje) [1]. Since the 1950s, the name of the city in Macedonian has been Skopje (Скопје), reflecting the Macedonian Cyrillic orthography for the local pronunciation. It originates from Latin Scupi. This, in turn, is explained either as going back to a local Thraco-Illyrian tribe, or to the Greek skopion and skopein meaning to look out[2], pointing to Skopje's origin as a classical era Greco-Roman frontier fortress town. During the Middle Ages, Skopje was often under the rule of the Bulgarian Empire; the Bulgarian rendition is Skopie (Скопие). The Turkish name of the city is Üsküb and it was known as Uskub or Uskup in most Western European languages during the period of Ottoman rule. The Serbian name for the city is Skoplje (Скопље); it was known as such in English from the time the city joined the Kingdom of Serbia, and continued so during the time of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (including the first ten years as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes). In Albanian it is called Shkupi, and in Aromanian, Scopia.

History

Macedonia Square in central Skopje

Classical era

File:Skopie-general-1.jpg

Skopje with its Neo-Classical architecture before the 1963 earthquake

The site of modern Skopje has been inhabited since at least 3500 BC; remains of Neolithic settlements have been found within the old Kale fortress that overlooks the modern city centre. The settlement appears to have been founded around the by the Paionians, a people that inhabited the region. In the 3th century BC, Skopje and the surrounding area was invaded by the Dardani.Scupi came under Roman rule after the general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon in 148 BC, being at first part of the Roman province of Macedonia, established in 146 BC. The northward expansion of the empire in the course of the 1st century BC lead to the creation of the province of Moesia in Augustus's times, into which Scupi was incorporated. After the division of the province by Domitian in 86 AD, Scupi was elevated to colonia status, and became a seat of government within the new province of Moesia superior. From 395 AD, it passed into the hands of the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) Empire.

The first known bishop of the city is Perigorius, present at the Council of Sardica (343). Scupi was probably a metropolitan see about the middle of the 5th century (Latin: Archidioecesis Scopiensis).

Medieval era

Lamentation of Christ, a Nerezi fresco (1164)

The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I was born near Skupi, at Tauresium, in 483. In 518, Skupi was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. Justinian came to the aid of its inhabitants by founding a new settlement called Justiniana Prima north from the site of Skupi. However, Justiniana and the remnants of Skupi were destroyed by invading Slavic peoples at the end of the 7th century. The Slavs renamed the site as Skopje but were eventually pushed out by the Byzantines.

During much of the early medieval period, the town was contested between the Byzantines and the Bulgarian Empire. From 972 to 992 it was the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire. After that, it was a capital of Byzantine administrative region (katepanat) Bulgaria after the fall the First Bulgarian Empire in 1018. Skopje was a thriving trading settlement but fell into decline after being hit by another devastating earthquake at the end of the 11th century. It was a capital of the estate of the Bulgarian feudal lord, later Emperor Konstantin Asen in the middle of 13th century. The town was taken by the Serbs in 1282. In 1346 it was named the capital of the Serbian Empire of Stefan Dušan.

Ottoman era

Ottoman mosque in Skopje's Old Town

In 1392, three years after the Serbian defeat in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, Skopje was captured by the Ottoman Empire. For the next five hundred years it was known by the Turkish name Üsküb or Üsküp. Ottoman Üsküb was the capital of the Vilayet of Kosovo (district of Kosovo), which occupied a much greater area than the modern region of Kosovo [3].

The city's character changed markedly during this period. The Ottomans imported Islam and built many mosques and other typically Ottoman buildings, such as hamams (baths) and travelers' inns, some of which still exist today. Many Sephardi Jews expelled from Spain also settled in the city, adding to its ethnic variety. The medieval city was badly damaged by an earthquake in 1555, but it soon recovered and prospered. By the 17th century, its population was put at between 30,000-60,000. The Turkish writer Dulgar Dede visited Üsküb during this period and wrote: "I travelled for many years across that country of Rumelia and I saw a many beautiful cities and I was amazed at Allah's blessings, but not one impressed and delighted as much as the heavenly city of Skopje across which passes the Vardar River."

In 1689, however, Skopje was burned by the Austrian general Engelberto d'Ugo Piccolomini– ostensibly to eradicate an outbreak of cholera, but quite possibly to avenge the Ottomans' 1683 attack on Vienna.

The city's fortunes waned over the next 200 years and its population shrank to only about 10,000 people by the middle of the 19th century. It revived after 1873 with the building of the railway from Belgrade to Thessaloniki, which passed through Skopje.

Downtown Skopje today

By 1905, Skopje had a population of approximately 32,000, which was composed of a mixture of ethnic and religious groups. In 1910, the Roman Catholic nun [4], Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, later to become famous as Mother Teresa, was born in Skopje.

The city became a major centre of rebellion against the weakening Ottoman Empire, and in 1903 it was a key player in the unsuccessful Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising against Ottoman rule. The Ottomans were shortly expelled from the city in August 12, 1912 by the local Slavic population. Several months later the city was captured by the Serbs at the beginning of First Balkan War.

Balkan wars, I and II World War

In 1913, the allies in the First Balkan War fell out with each other and launched the Second Balkan War over the division of the spoils. Serbia retained control of Skopje, with the Vardar valley being incorporated into Serbia. This lasted until October 1915, when Bulgaria joined the Central Powers and seized much of Serbian-ruled Macedonia. The city was occupied by Serbia at end of the World War I in 1918, when it became part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia from 1929). Between 1941–1944 the city was under Bulgarian occupation. One month after the communists took power in Sofia and the Bulgarian army was sent to fight the Germans to the west front, Skopje was seized by Yugoslavian troops, and then joined Yugoslavia in 1944, when it became the capital of the newly established People's Republic of Macedonia. Following the wars, Skopje and the rest of Vardar Macedonia was incorporated into Tito's Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Skopje grew rapidly during united Yugoslavia and became a major industrial centre for the south-central Balkans region.

1963 earthquake

Main article: 1963 Skopje earthquake

National Parliament of Macedonia

On 26 July 1963, Skopje was struck by another major earthquake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, which killed over 1,000 people and made another 120,000 homeless. Eighty percent of the city was destroyed by the earthquake, and numerous cultural monuments were seriously damaged. The losses from the quake amounted to a massive 150% of Macedonia's GNP at the time and 15% of Yugoslavia's GNP. A major international relief effort saw the city rebuilt quickly, though much of its old Ottoman aspect was lost in the process. The ruins of the old Skopje train station which was destroyed in the earthquake remain today as a memorial to the victims along with an adjacent museum.

Capital of independent Macedonia

Skopje has been officially the capital of the Republic of Macedonia since 1945, in 1991 becoming the capital of a fully independent state. Skopje is the political, administrative, and commercial center of the country. Home of the public Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje founded in 1949 and five other private universities.

Geography

Skopje satellite image

Skopje
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     4 −3     37     8 −1     36     14 2     40     19 5     62     24 10     46     28 13     34     30 15     31     30 15     41     26 11     44     19 6     56     10 1     46     5 −2 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm Source: Climate-Charts.com
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.3     40 26     1.5     47 30     1.4     57 35     1.6     65 42     2.4     75 50     1.8     82 56     1.3     86 59     1.2     86 58     1.6     79 52     1.7     67 43     2.2     50 34     1.8     41 28 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches

Skopje is located in the northern part of Macedonia, in the Skopje statistical region. The Vardar River flows through the city and the rest of the country, passing the border into Greece and flowing into the Aegean Sea. Skopje is located at an elevation of 255 meters above sea level. The city's land area is 1,854 km² (715.8 sq mi).

Climate

The city experiences a continental climate, with warm summers and cool winters.

Administrative divisions

Skopje is an administrative division within the Republic of Macedonia constituted of 10 municipalities. As a such administrative unit Skopje is the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. It is part of Skopje statistical region (Скопски регион).

The organisation of Skopje, like a distinct unit of the local-selfgovernment is defined by the Law of Skopje.

1 . Centar
2 . Gazi Baba
3 . Aerodrom
4 . Čair
5 . Kisela Voda
6 . Butel
7 . Šuto Orizari
8 . Karpoš
9 . File:MMCA(Gjorche Petrov).png Gjorče Petrov
10 . Saraj

Demographics

According to the 2002 census, the population of Skopje was 506,926 people. The main ethnic groups are Macedonians - 338,358, who make 66.75% of the population, followed by Albanians - 103,891 (20.49%), Roma - 23,475 (4.63%), Serbs - 14,298 (2.82%), Turks - 8,595 (1.70%), Bosniaks - 7,585 (1.50%) and Aromanians (Vlachs) - 2,557 (0.50%) and others - 8,167 (1.61%)

97.5% of the population over the age of 10 is literate.

Landmarks

Old Stone bridge

Old Stone Bridge

The Old Stone Bridge in the city square is built under the patronage of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror between 1451 and 1469. However, some sources assume it was built by Byzantine emperor Justinian I in V century A.D. This bridge represents the connection between Skopje’s past and present and today is featured as the emblem of the city of Skopje. The bridge was partially renovated in the 1990s.

Old Skopje Bazaar

The Skopje Old Bazaar is situated in an area between the Stone Bridge and the Bit Bazaar, and between the Kale fortress and the Serava River. In the past all economic activities in the city were taking place in this bazaar. In the period between the XVI and the XVII century, the Old Bazaar reached its urban and economic zenith, developing into one of the largest and most significant oriental old bazaars in the Balkans. It is full of bustling shops that beckon visitors. This bazaar is an interesting mixture of Eastern and Western culture.

Macedonia square in Skopje

Macedonia square

This square is the largest and most important of Skopje’s squares. It is dramatically widened by the destruction of the massive neoclassical National Bank and Army House during the 1963 earthquake. The most remarkable building is the Risticheva Palata. However, the focus of the square is still the Stone Bridge, and it’s a pleasant place to hang out in good weather. During the warmer months concerts are performed in the square.

Kale Fortress

This fortress is situated in a hill above the city and there were settlements that existed before the Turks created the extensive castle walls that survived until today. The present fortress was originally built by the Byzantines in the 6th century. It is supposed that the stone blocks used in this construction were taken from the destroyed city of Skupi nearby. After the 1963 earthquake, Kale’s circular, rectangular and square towers were conserved and restored. Today this fortress is the one of the best sightseeing spots in Skopje.

Old railway station in Skopje

Old Railway Station

The clock on this old train station stopped at 5:17 am since the morning of July 26th 1963, when this piece of the grand modernist station of Skopje was one of the few parts of the city that remained standing after a massive earthquake crushed the city. It measured 6.1 on the Richter scale, killed nearly two thousand people, and left over a hundred thousand homeless after destroying about 80% of the city. It's a reminder of a tragic moment in Skopje's history.

The Millennium Cross on top of Vodno mountain

Millennium Cross

The Millennium Cross, situated on the peak of the mountain Vodno, is a tourist attraction. At 66 meters high, it is the biggest cross of the world and can be seen from 30 km away. It was build to celebrate 2000 years of the existence of Christianity and of Macedonia as a biblical land.

Sveti Spas (Saint Salvation) Church

This church, one of the most famous landmarks in Skopje, is located between the Old Bazaar and the Kale Fortress. The interior of this attraction is significant in art, as it features a giant iconostasis (altar) carved out of wood. Blending biblical figures and local scenery, the depictions themselves are of topical interest. Goce Delchev, a national hero for his involvement in the late 19th century struggle for Macedonian liberation, is buried in the church backyard.

Saint Panteleimon church

The church of Saint Panteleimon in Nerezi near Skopje is a superb example of the Comnenian art on the all-Byzantine level. Commissioned by several members of the royal Comnenus family, the church was not finished until 1164. Nerezi is famous for its frescoes, representing a pinnacle of the 12th-century trend of intimacy and spirituality. They are often compared with similarly delicate works by Giotto, who worked 140 years later. These murals underwent serious 19th-century overpainting but were restored lately.

Kursumli An

This former Turkish inn features architecturally interesting arches and domes. Because lead was used to top the structure, it became known as the Lead Inn (Kursumli An).Now it is sharing its location with a national museum for Macedonia. This type of structure, once common in Islamic cities, is known as a ‘’caravanserai.” Its appearance is identical to those of the caravan sarais that were built in the Islamic urban centers of these times. It is an impressive building with decorated walls and numerous small domes of a pyramidal shape. Its roof was covered by lead, and this is how its name originated (kuršum in Turkish language means lead).

Mustafa Pasha Mosque

Of the old mosques in the city, Mustapha Pasha Mosque is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings of Ottoman architecture in Skopje. Located on a hill facing Fort Kale, this mosque dominates the whole surroundings and was built in the last decade of the 15th century when the military spahi system of Osmanli Turkish feudalism had reached the peak of its development. It is an endowment of Mustapha Pasha, an eminent figure in the Turkish state during the rule of Sultan Bayezid II and Sultan Selim I. The year of Mustapha Pasha's death is engraved on the entrance of his mausoluem, which is located by the mosque. It shows him to have died in 1519. The mausoleum and the mosque were both badly damaged in Skopje's 1963 earthquake, and restoration and conservation work was started in 1968. The interior of the mosque, like that of the porch, is mostly decorated with stylized plants. On the walls of the praying space are calligraphic inscriptions (lehve) with the names of Allah, Mohammed and his followers (Ebubekira, Ali, Osman and Omer) and quotations from the Qu'ran. The painted decorations are more recent, mainly from 1933 when the mosque was renovated. This can be seen from the intense blue and black color of the ornaments, which are often a confusing mass of color. Most of the city's 1930s 'Balkan Art Nouveau' buildings were also destroyed in 1963 but some characteristic examples remain. Non-worshippers are not always granted access, but the building is at least lovely on the outside, with well-maintained gardens.

Mother Teresa sites

There are several landmarks of Mother Teresa in Skopje, the city where she was born, including a marker for her birthplace and a statue. Currently a Memorial house of Mother Teresa's is building in Skopje.

Other sites

An ancient Roman aqueduct survives to the north of the city. One of stone bridges connecting both side of Vardar River dates back to the reign of Stefan Dušan. This bridge is not to be confused with the more famous Stone Bridge in the city square.

Culture

Museum of Contemporary Arts Skopje[5], is one of the most important institution of Macedonia in discovering, treasuring and preserving the Contemporary Arts. Тhe international community manifested an exceptionally wide solidarity in assisting the reconstruction of Skopje. An important part of that solidarity was also the action initiated by the International Association of the Plastic Arts which on its convention held in October 1963 in New York, called upon the artists of the world to assist in creating a collection of works of art by which they would support the vision of the city reconstruction. The building project was donated by the Polish Government which made a national competition to this and where the joint work of the Polish architects: J. Mokrzynski, E. Wierzbicki and W. Klyzewski was accepted. Having a total area of 5000 sq. m., the Museum building is made up of three connected wings which include the halls for temporary exhibitions, the premises for the permanent exhibition, the hall for lecturers, film and video presentation, the library and the archives, the administration, the conservation workshop, the depots and other departments. The great park areas, that enable the installation of various sculptural projects, as well as the spacious parking further relate to the immediate environment of the Skopje Museum of Contemporary Art.

The Skopje Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz events in Southeast Europe held annually ever since 1981. The artists` profiles include fusion, acid jazz, latin jazz, smooth jazz, and avant-garde jazz, which brings a great variety and richness to this festival. Ray Charles, Tito Puente, Gotan Project, Al di Meola, Youssou N'Dour, just to name few, have taken part at this festival. The Skopje Jazz Festival is part of the European Jazz Network and The European Forum of World Wide Festivals. It is held in October.

Sports

Main article: Sports in Skopje

Famous people born in Skopje

Further information: List of people from Skopje

Some notable people born in Skopje or its surroundings are:

• Mother Teresa - Roman Catholic Humanitarian
• Darko Pančev - Uefa Champions League Winner and Europe's top Goalscorer in 1991
• Milčo Mančevski - Macedonian film director
• Blagoj Nacoski - tenor opera singer
• Trifun Kostovski - mayor of Skopje
• Esma Redžepova - Romani vocalist
• Srgjan Kerim - President of the United Nations General Assembly

Sister and partner cities

Nürnberg, Germany Zaragoza, Spain Ljubljana, Slovenia Ankara, Turkey Dresden, Germany Tempe, Arizona, USA Lecce, Italy East York, Ontario, Canada Wroclaw, Poland Istanbul, Turkey Waremme, Belgium Niš, Serbia Pittsburgh, USA Bradford, England Craiova, Romania Dijon, France

Sofia, Bulgaria Belgrade, Serbia Pernik, Bulgaria Roubaix, France Podgorica, Montenegro

External links

• Skopje Online: Culture, Dining, Sports, and Entertainment Guide
• Skopje Clubbing - Nightlife Guide
• Skopje Alexander the Great Airport
• Skopje Intercity Bus Station
• Saints Cyril and Methodius University - Skopje
• City of Skopje Official Portal
• Skopje travel guide