HERITAGE TRAILS in Southwestern Macedonia
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CITY OF OHRID Our UNESCO listed town is brimming with history and culture, and we’re delighted to introduce you to some of our great treasures: St. Sophia, built between the 11th and 14th century, was the seat of the Archbishop; Virgin Mary Perivpleptos, a classic Orthodox Byzantine church, dominating the Old Town, demonstrates the link between Byzantine and Italian Renaissance art; The Icon Gallery houses one of the world’s most prominent collections of icons from the 11th to the 19th century; St. John at Kaneo, stands alone on a small promontory which juts out into the Lake at the western end of the Old Town, and provides spectacular panoramic views of the Lake and surrounding mountains; The Robev family house, now the Archaeological Museum of Ohrid, which contains artifacts from the Neolithic period to the 19 th century – there is also an exceptional example of the Ohrid tradition of wood carving in the top floor ceiling.
VILLAGES The villages of Velestovo, Konjsko and Elshani are situated in the Galichitsa National Park, on the eastern side of Lake Ohrid. Here we can experience the authentic rural life of this region. While wandering through these villages, we’ll enjoy the magnificent lake views; in Elshani, we’ll be acquainted with the traditional rakia production facilities; and, after another break in Peshtani, we’ll continue for lunch by the lakeside, in the village of Trpejca.
LAKE PRESPA We’ll take the Ohrid - Resen road through glorious tree - covered mountains stopping in the village of Podmochani. Here we’ll share with you the privilege of enjoying the beauty of the Collection of Macedonian Folk Costumes. Continuing on, we travel to the village of Kurbinovo, where the 12 th century church dedicated to St. George is hidden away in an idyllic clearing. A modest building with magnificent frescoes painted in 1191, the extraordinary wall decoration of this church is one of Macedonia's masterpieces of mediaeval painting. Follows lunch in a restaurant by the western lakeside.
Our return journey takes us over the Galichitsa National Park, to marvel at the stunning views across Lake Ohrid.
BITOLA Bitola - The City of the Consuls, where Kemal Mustapha Atatürk, the founder of the contemporary Turkish state was educated; or where Milton Manaki, the first cinematographer on the Balkans had lived and died… Bitola is an extraordinary mixture of the old and the new, a meeting point of different cultures and civilizations. Here, side by side and for many centuries, Christians, Muslims and Jews had lived together. Just like the skyscraping minarets are still overlooking the churches – Catholic or Orthodox. On the outskirts of Bitola, ruins and magnificent mosaics remind of Heraclea Lyncestis and its fame from the times of the ancient Macedonian kingdom and the later Roman conquest. The church of St. Demetrius is one of the biggest Orthodox temples in Macedonia, while among the best preserved in the country is the Old Bazaar. Having explored the rich history of the city, our tour takes us to the neighboring Pelister National Park, to feel the freshness of the air and have lunch in a beautiful hotel restaurant.
STRUGA Struga is now most famous for its wall of water where the Black Drim River flows out of Lake Ohrid on its way to the Adriatic. In August, the famous international poetry festival is staged on the bridge over the Black Drim. Our tour includes: The Natural History Museum with its excellent display of the region’s habitats and the many species of animals that abound in the region; The Brothers Miladinov’s Home, known as the Home of Poetry, reveals the tragic life of Constantine and Dimitar, heroes of the Macedonian cultural revolution of the mid -19th century, who struggled to introduce the Macedonian language in schools and churches; St. George’s church which was rebuilt in 1835, and contains a fascinating 13 th century icon of St. George. Coffee break at Hotel Biser by the lakeside, before visiting the monastery and cave church of the Virgin Mary, established in the 14 th century.
KRUSHEVO Krushevo is the “Eagle’s Nest”: the highest town of the Balkans situated 1, 250 meters above the sea level. In this town, during the Macedonian Ilinden Uprising of 1903, the Republic of Krushevo was created – the first statehood of the kind in this part of Europe. The Ilinden Memorial stands above the town as an eternal guardian and reminder of the past. Besides the four Orthodox churches, Krushevo proudly displays many houses from the late 19th and early 2oth century, all built in the traditional style, which is a mixture of architectural influences from both – the West and the Orient. Nikola Martinoski, one of the greatest contemporary painters of Macedonia, was born in Krushevo.
SVETI NAUM The monastery of St. Naum of Ohrid is situated close to the springs of the Black Drim River, which then flows out of the Lake at Struga. St. Naum was famous for his miraculous healing powers. A contemporary of St. Clement (of Ohrid), he built the original church and monastery here in 900. A pilgrimage and healing center since the Middle Ages, thousands of pilgrims visit the grave of St. Naum who was buried in the church in 910.
CUSTOM TOURS AVAILABLE, AS WELL!
For more detailed information and bookings, please contact:
Institute for Traditional Values E – mail: itvo@t-home.mk
Prepared by: Misho Yuzmeski Published by: Institute for Traditional Values – 2000 - 2011