Great surprises in the ancient land of Alexander: Macedonia's magnificent scenery and intriguing history are beginning to attract visitors
- Soviet gloom has long been banished in Macedonia and tourism is on the rise
- It boasts excellent sporting facilities and has fascinating archaeological sites
- Beautiful Lake Ohri has it all, from pure spring water to precious icons
Julius
Caesar, Alexander the Great and St Paul were among those to stride its
paved highways in ancient times; much of its artwork and architecture
can rival any in Europe, while the sandy shores of its magnificent
inland lake beat many a seaside resort.
Welcome
to Macedonia. Landlocked by Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria and
Greece, the country may have a turbulent past. But after centuries of
invasions and border disputes, it became an independent state in 1991.
With Soviet gloom banished, the magnificent scenery, excellent sporting
facilities, intriguing history and archaeological sites are beginning to
attract visitors.
On
our journey to Lake Ohrid, the diamond in this country of many
treasures, we crossed part of the ancient Via Egnatia, one of the great
Roman military roads of the ancient world – a 696-mile link between
Macedonia and Istanbul. Much of the route fell into disuse but some
sections are now a walking trail.
This
ancient and modern link threaded through our journey. Our accommodation
included two nights in mountain monasteries – St Joakim Osogovski near
the Bulgarian border in the east, founded in the 12th Century with its
great collection of frescos; and St Jovan Bigorski, near the Albanian
border in the west.
Straddling
the Albanian border further south, beautiful Lake Ohrid has it all –
pure spring water, some of the country’s most precious icons and,
supposedly, a church for each day of the year. Ohrid town, a blend of
cobbled old quarter and modern resort, has sandy beaches, lakeside walks
and waterside restaurants. It’s blissfully relaxing.
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