“Macedonia 🇲🇰 ~Magnolia Square in Bitola”
We are back in Macedonia!
When we were here the first time, last month, we were only here long enough to visit the capital; Skopje and rent the car, before heading for Kosovo.
After spending over a month on our Balkan Road Trip, already, and loving it, we are feeling very filled-up in all things Balkan. Keep in mind, many of the, now, individual Balkan Peninsula countries, use to be one large country called Yugoslavia. For this reason, there are some similarities.
The Balkan Peninsula consists of the following countries:
Albania, Croatia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Romania, Bulgaria, continental Greece, and the European part of Turkey
Once we go to Bulgaria, which is our next stop (God willing), I will have completed my goal of visiting every country in the Balkans. My first stop in Eastern Europe was several years ago, to Romania. I loved it, and decided one day I would see the rest of the countries in the Balkans
About Former Yugoslavia
- Yugoslavia literally means “Slavs of the South”
- Yugoslavia was a country made up of several ethnicities, causing conflict in the country.
- When most former nations have already seceded, the civil war broke out in Yugoslavia in April 1992, when the Croats voted to follow suit.
Today, there are six independent countries that were once part of the Kraljevina Jugoslavija (The Yugoslavian Kingdom); they are Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Kosovo is a state that broke off of Serbia with partial recognition as an independent nation. (it is recognised by 111 UN countries, including global powers like the US, Canada and Japan, but is not recognized by Serbia and others.
Bitola is the second largest city in Macedonia with a history dating back to the middle of the 4th century BC, back then it was known to the ancient world as Heraclea Lyncestis; a city founded by Phillip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great). For this, Bitola is the oldest city in the Republic of Macedonia.
The first consulate in Bitola was established in 1851 by the Austro-Hungarian Empire at that time, precisely at Shirok Sokak. Later it would be done by the British and the French, followed by the consuls from Russia, Italy, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
The Clock Tower is the most recognizable monument that identifies Bitola.
It is located in the very center, where the city clock dominates the space with its height and broadcasts popular music when it is chiming. Although documentation of its building was not found, it is thought to have been built during the period of Turkish rule, in the 14th century, along with the Yeni mosque.
It is over 108 feet high, and placed on a square base. On the north side there is a semicircular entrance and internal spiral stone stairs. It is divided into three floors, and on the top is the clock mechanism on all four sides. The uppermost part is a small dome, which offers a beautiful panorama of the consul city and its wider surroundings. The park around the tower is a place where citizens gather on Christmas Eve and light candles along the lawn and pavement.
The first lamps of Shirok Sokak (now Shirok Sokak Street) removed the darkness from the Clock Tower next to the Officer’s House exactly at 17:00 on December 24, 1924.
At that time, Shirok Sokok had offices of numerous foreign companies, prestigious restaurants, pastry shops, a branch of the Franco-Serbian Bank. That first consul period was the inspiration for numerous consuls songs, for the carriages, for the pianos, for the famous ckembe stew, for the Vlach district and the yellow houses, and for love. The dream of the citizens of Bitola their city to become consul city once again, were achieved with the independence of Macedonia.
During the Ottoman rule, the city was called Monastir, which the Turks and Albanians adopted from the Greeks. After the Balkan wars from 1913, the city fell under Serbian occupation and again received the old name Bitola.
In the middle of 19th century, Bitola opened numerous consular offices and many foreign officials, merchants and members of their families came in the city. The increased number of Catholic believers, required constant presence of priest; who would take care of the spiritual needs of the population, spiritual and school education of children and other believers.
Iskhak Chelebi Ibn Issa mosque, as its full name is, is one of the oldest preserved mosques in Bitola and one of the most famous Muslim sacred cultural and historical facilities in Macedonia.
With a minaret at a height of about 164 feet, the mosque dominates the space opposite the Clock Tower and the Great Bezisten. In its large courtyard there are several graves, attractive for the sophisticated forms of the sarcophagi. This one-room under-dome mosque is a true resting place for its founder. The main decorative element in the porch are the four pillars, which dominate the space, placed on high stone posts that end with identical capitals. Through the main portal, one enters the praying space with lavish decoration. The particularity of this mosque is due to the game of colours and shapes, which are reflected in every part of the mosque.
The church St. Dimitrij (Saint Demetrios) in Bitola was built in 1830, replacing the former burned chapel, from 1726.
Built with special permission of the Turkish authorities, the church was to be a modest and nondescript building, lower than the surrounding mosques.
Therefore, it was dug into the ground and it was built in just four months with donations from Bitola Christians.
Yeni Mosque in Bitola is located in the city center on the right side of the River Dragor near the Clock Tower.
It was built in 1558-59. The base of the mosque is square, covered with a dome.
Next to the mosque is a minaret, which reaches a height of over 131 feet.
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Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
It’s an awesome travel trip, the acient city of Macedonia and the rest of them was a great memories of the great people of the the country. You both did a great job enjoy your travel trip, the Lord will continue to be with you
Thank you so much. I’m glad you are enjoying. We love to share. We welcome you along!
Thank you so much! Welcome to our blog!