Skopje

Skopje(/ˈskɒpjeɪ/SKOP-yay,USalso/ˈskoʊpjeɪ/SKOHP-yay;Macedonian:Скопје[ˈskɔpjɛ];Albanian:Shkup,Albaniandefinite form:Shkupi) is the capital andlargest cityofNorth Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. Skopje lies in theSkopje Basin.
Scupiis attested for the first time in the second century AD as a city inRoman Dardania.When theRoman Empirewas divided into eastern and western halves in AD 395, Scupi came underByzantinerule fromConstantinople. During much of theearly medieval period, the town was contested between the Byzantines and theBulgarian Empire, whose capital it was between 972 and 992. In 1004, when it was again seized by the Byzantine Empire, the city became a centre of a newprovincecalledBulgaria. From 1282, the town was part of theSerbian Empire, of which it was the capital from 1346 to 1371.
In 1392, Skopje was conquered by theOttoman Empire, who called itÜsküb(اسکوب).The town stayed under Ottoman control for over 500 years, serving as the capital of thepashasanjakofÜsküpand later theVilayet of Kosovo. Its central position in theOttoman Balkansmade it a significant centre of commerce and administration during the Ottoman era. In 1912, it was annexed by theKingdom of Serbiaduring theBalkan Wars.
DuringWorld War Ithe city was seized by theKingdom of Bulgaria, and, after the war, it became part of the newly formedKingdom of Yugoslaviaas the capital ofVardarska Banovina. InWorld War II, the city was again captured by Bulgaria and in 1945 became the capital ofSR Macedonia, afederated statewithinYugoslavia.The city developed rapidly, but this was interrupted in 1963 when it was hit bya disastrous earthquake.
Skopje is located on the upper course of theVardarRiver and on a major north–southBalkanroute betweenBelgradeandAthens. It is a centre for the chemical, timber, textile, leather, printing, and metal-processing 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 transportation, culture and sport. According to the last official census from 2021, Skopje had a population of 526,502 inhabitants.
The city is attested for the first name inGeographybyPtolemyc.AD 150as one of the cities ofRoman Dardania. Ptolemy describes the city in Latin asScupiand ancient Greek asΣκοῦποι. Thetoponymlikely belongs to a group of similarIllyriantoponyms which have been transmitted to Slavic languages in the same way as the modernMacedoniantoponymSkopje:SkopljeandUskopljein Bosnia,Uskopljein Dalmatia (Croatia).
Shkup, the name of the city inAlbanian, developed directly from Roman-eraScupiin agreement with the Albanian phonological development, the basis of evidence of an earlier Albanian settlement in the area.Shkupiis the definite form ofShkupin Albanian.Skopje, the name of the city during the Middle Ages, is the local Slavic (Macedonian) rendition ofScupi.TheOttoman Turkishrendition of the city's name isÜsküb(Ottoman Turkish:اسكوب) and it was adapted in Western languages in "Uskub" or "Uskup", and these two appellations were used in theWestern worlduntil 1912. Some Western sources also cite "Scopia" and "Skopia".Scopiais the name of the city inAromanian.
WhenVardar Macedoniawas annexed by theKingdom of Serbiain 1912, the city officially becameSkoplje(Serbian Cyrillic:Скопље) and many languages adopted this name. To reflect local pronunciation, the city's name was eventually spelled asSkopje(Macedonian:Скопје) after theSecond World War, when standardMacedonianbecame the official language of the newSocialist Republic of Macedonia.
Skopje is in the north of the country, in the centre of theBalkan peninsula, and approximately halfway betweenBelgradeandAthens. The city was built in theSkopje Valley, oriented on a west–east axis, along the course of theVardarriver, which flows into theAegean Seain Greece. The valley is approximately 20 km (12 mi) wideand it is limited by several mountain ranges to the north and south. These ranges limit the urban expansion of Skopje, which spreads along the Vardar and theSerava[mk;sr], a small river which comes from the north. In its administrative boundaries, the City of Skopje stretches for more than 33 km (21 mi),but it is only 10 km (6.2 mi) wide.
Skopje is approximately 245 m above sea level and covers 571.46 km.The urbanised area only covers 337 km, with a density of 65 inhabitants per hectare.Skopje, in its administrative limits, encompasses many villages and other settlements, includingDračevo,Gorno Nereziand Bardovci. According to the 2021 census, the City of Skopje had 526,502 inhabitants.
The City of Skopje reaches theKosovoborder to the north-east. Clockwise, it is also bordered by the municipalities ofČučer-Sandevo,Lipkovo,Aračinovo,Ilinden,Studeničani,Sopište,ŽelinoandJegunovce.
TheVardarriver, which flows through Skopje, is at approximately 60 km (37 mi) from its source nearGostivar. In Skopje, its average discharge is 51 m/s, with a wide amplitude depending on seasons, between 99.6 m/s in May and 18.7 m/s in July. The water temperature is between 4.6 °C in January and 18.1 °C in July.
Several rivers meet the Vardar within the city boundaries. The largest is theTreska, which is 130 km (81 mi) long. It crosses theMatka Canyonbefore reaching the Vardar on the western extremity of the City of Skopje. TheLepenac, coming fromKosovo, flows into the Vardar on the north-western end of the urban area. The Serava, also coming from the north, had flowed through theOld Bazaaruntil the 1960s when it was diverted towards the west because its waters were very polluted. Originally, it met the Vardar close to the seat of theMacedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Nowadays, it flows into the Vardar near the ruins ofScupi.Markova Reka, which originates in MountVodno, meets the Vardar at the eastern extremity of the city. These three rivers are less than 70 km (43 mi) long.
The City of Skopje incorporates two artificial lakes, on the Treska.Lake Matkais the result of the construction of a dam inMatka Canyonin the 1930s, and the Treska lake was dug for leisurely purposes in 1978.Three small natural lakes can be found nearSmilkovci, on the north-eastern edge of the urban area.
The river Vardar historically caused many floods, such as in 1962, when its outflow reached 1110 m/s.Several works have been carried out since Byzantine times to limit the risks, and since the construction of theKozjak damon the Treska in 1994, the flood risk is close to zero.
The subsoil contains a largewater tablewhich is alimented by the Vardar and functions as an underground river. Under the table lies anaquifercontained inmarl. The water table is 4 to 12 m under the ground and 4 to 144 m deep. Several wells collect its waters but most of the drinking water used in Skopje comes from akarsticspring inRašče, west of the city.
The Skopje valley is bordered on the west by theŠar Mountains, on the South by theJakupicarange, on the east by hills belonging to theOsogovorange, and on the north by theSkopska Crna Gora. MountVodno, the highest point inside the city limits, is 1066 m high and is part of theJakupicarange.
Although Skopje is built on the foot of Mount Vodno, the urban area is mostly flat. It comprises several minor hills, generally covered with woods and parks, such as Gazi Baba hill (325 m), Zajčev Rid (327 m), the foothills of Mount Vodno (the smallest are between 350 and 400 m high) and the promontory on whichSkopje Fortressis built.
The Skopje valley is near a seismic fault between the African and Eurasiantectonic platesand experiences regular seismic activity.This activity in enhanced by the porous structure of the subsoil.Large earthquakes occurred in Skopje in 518, 1555 and 1963.
The Skopje valley belongs to the Vardar geotectonic region, the subsoil of which is formed ofNeogeneandQuaternarydeposits. The substratum is made ofPliocenedeposits includingsandstone,marl, and various conglomerates. It is covered by a first layer of Quaternary sands and silt, which is between 70 and 90 m deep. The layer is topped by a much smaller layer of clay, sand, silt, and gravel, carried by theVardarriver. It is between 1.5 and 5.2 m deep.
In some areas, the subsoil iskarstic. It led to the formation of canyons, such as theMatka Canyon, which is surrounded by ten caves. They are between 20 and 176 m deep.
Skopje has ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen:Cfa), bordering on ahumid continental climate(Köppen:Dfa)with a mean annual temperature of 12.6 °C (55 °F). Precipitation is relatively low due to the pronouncedrain shadowof theAccursed Mountainsto the north-west, being significantly less than what is received on the Adriatic Sea coast at the same latitude. The summers are long, hot and relatively dry with lowhumidity. Skopje's average July high is 32 °C (90 °F). On average Skopje experiences 88 days above 30 °C (86 °F) each year, and 10.2 days above 35.0 °C (95 °F) every year.
Winters are short, relatively cold and wet. Snowfalls are common in the winter period, but heavy snow accumulation is rare and the snowcover lasts only for a few hours or a few days if heavy. In summer, temperatures are usually above 31 °C (88 °F) and sometimes above 40 °C (104 °F). In spring and autumn, the temperatures range from 15 to 24 °C (59 to 75 °F). In winter, the day temperatures are roughly in the range from 5–10 °C (41–50 °F), but at nights they often fall below 0 °C (32 °F) and sometimes below −10 °C (14 °F). Typically, temperatures throughout one year range from −13 °C to 39 °C. Occurrences of precipitation are evenly distributed throughout the year, being heaviest from October to December, and from April to June.
The City of Skopje encompasses various natural environments, having diversefaunaandflora. However, it is threatened by the intensification of agriculture and urban extension. The largest protected area within the city limits is Mount Vodno, which is a popular leisure destination. A cable car connects its peak to the downtown, and many pedestrian paths run through its woods. Other large natural spots include theMatka Canyon.
The city itself comprises several parks and gardens amounting to 4,361 hectares. Amongst these are theCity Park[mk], built by the Ottoman Turks at the beginning of the 20th century; Žena Borec Park, in front of the Parliament; the university arboretum; and Gazi Baba forest. Many streets and boulevards are planted with trees.
Steel processing—a crucial activity for the local economy—is responsible forsoil pollutionwith heavy metals such aslead,zincandcadmium, andair pollutionwithnitrogen oxideandcarbon monoxide.Vehicle traffic anddistrict heatingplants are also responsible for air pollution.
Water treatment plants are being built, but much of the polluted water is still being discharged untreated into theVardar.Waste is disposed of in the open-air municipal landfill site, 15 km (9.3 mi) north of the city. Every day, it receives 1,500 mof domestic waste and 400 mof industrial waste. Health levels are better in Skopje than in the rest of North Macedonia, and no link has been found between the low environmental quality and the health of the residents.
The urban morphology of Skopje was deeply impacted by the1963 earthquake, which destroyed 80% of the city, and by its subsequent reconstruction.For instance, neighbourhoods were rebuilt in such a way that the demographic density remains low to limit the impact of potential future earthquakes.
Reconstruction following the 1963 earthquake was mainly conducted by the Polish architectAdolf Ciborowski, who had already planned the reconstruction ofWarsawafterWorld War II. Ciborowski divided the city into blocks dedicated to specific activities. The banks of theVardarriver became natural areas and parks, areas between the main boulevards were built withhigh-risehousing and shopping centres, and the suburbs were left to individual housing and industry.Reconstruction had to be quick to relocate families and to relaunch the local economy. To stimulate economic development, the number of thoroughfares was increased and future urban extension was anticipated.
The south bank of the Vardar river generally comprises high-rise tower blocks, including the vast Karpoš neighbourhood which was built in the 1970s west of the centre. Towards the east, the new municipality ofAerodromwas planned in the 1980s to house 80,000 inhabitants on the site of the old airport. Between Karpoš and Aerodrom lies the city centre, rebuilt according to plans by Japanese architectKenzo Tange. The centre is surrounded by a row of long buildings suggesting a wall (Gradski Zid).
On the north bank, where the most ancient parts of the city lie, theOld Bazaarwas restored and its surroundings were rebuilt with low-rise buildings, so as not to spoil views of theSkopje Fortress. Several institutions, including the university and theMacedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, were also relocated to the north bank to reduce borders between the ethnic communities. The north bank is mostly inhabited by Muslim Albanians, Turks, and Roma, whereas Christian ethnic Macedonians predominantly reside on the south bank.
The earthquake left the city with few historical monuments, apart from the Ottoman-eraOld Bazaar, and the reconstruction, conducted between the 1960s and 1980s, turned Skopje into amodernistcity. At the end of the 2000s, the city centre experienced profound changes. A highly controversialurban project,Skopje 2014, was adopted by the municipal authorities to give the city a more monumental and historical aspect, and thus to transform it into a proper national capital. Severalneoclassicalbuildings destroyed in the 1963 earthquake were rebuilt, including the national theatre, and streets and squares were refurbished. Many other elements were also built, including fountains, statues, hotels, government buildings and bridges. The project has been criticised because of its cost and its historicist aesthetics.The large Albanian minority felt it was not represented in the new monuments,and launched side projects, including a new square over the boulevard that separates the city centre from theOld Bazaar.
Skopje is an ethnically diverse city, and its urban sociology primarily depends on ethnic and religious affiliation.Macedoniansform 66% of the city population, whilstAlbaniansandRomaaccount respectively for 20% and 6%.Each ethnic group generallyself-segregatesitself to certain areas of the city. Macedonians live south of theVardarin areas massively rebuilt after 1963, whilst Muslims live on the northern side, in the oldest neighbourhoods of the city. These neighbourhoods are considered more traditional, whereas the south side evokes modernity to Macedonians.
The northern areas are the poorest; this is especially true forTopaana, inČair municipality, and forŠuto Orizari municipality, which are the two main Roma neighbourhoods. They are made of many illegal constructions not connected to the electric grid nor water supply, which are passed from one generation to another. Topaana, close to theOld Bazaar, is a very old area: it was first mentioned as a Roma neighbourhood in the beginning of the 14th century. It has between 3,000 and 5,000 inhabitants. Šuto Orizari, on the northern edge of the city, is a municipality of its own, withRomanias its local official language. It was developed after the 1963 earthquake to accommodate Roma who had lost their homes.
The population density varies greatly from one area to another. So does the size of the living area per person. The city average was at 19.41 m(208.93 sq ft) per person as of 2002, but at 24 m(258 sq ft) inCentaron the south bank, and only 14 m(151 sq ft) inČairon the north bank. InŠuto Orizari, the average was at 13 m(140 sq ft).
Outside of the urban area, the City of Skopje encompasses many small settlements. Some of them are becoming outer suburbs, such asČento, on the road to Belgrade, which has more than 23,000 inhabitants, andDračevo, which has almost 20,000 inhabitants.Other large settlements are north of the city, such asRadišani, with 9,000 inhabitants,whereas smaller villages can be found on Mount Vodno or inSaraj municipality, which is the most rural of the ten municipalities that form the City of Skopje.
Some localities outside the city limits are also becoming outer suburbs, particularly inIlindenandPetrovec municipality. They benefit from the presence of major roads, railways, and the airport,Skopje International, inPetrovec.
Air pollution is a serious problem in Skopje, especially in winter.Concentrations of certain types ofparticulate matter(PM2 and PM10) are regularly over twelve times theWHO-recommended maximum levels. In winter, smoke regularly obscures vision and can lead to problems for motorists. Together withKosovoandBosnia and Herzegovina,North Macedoniahas the most polluted urban areas in Europe.
Skopje's high levels of pollution are caused by a combination of smoke from houses, emissions from the industry, public and private transport, and a general lack of interest in caring for the environment. Central heating is often not affordable, and so households often burnfirewood, as well as used car tyres, plastic waste, petroleum, and other possibly flammable waste, which emits toxic chemicals harmful to the population, especially to children and the elderly.
The city's smog has reduced its air quality and affected the health of many of its citizens, many of whom have died from pollution-related illnesses.
AnapplicationcalledAirCare(Macedonian:МојВоздух,romanized:MojVozduh) has been launched by local eco-activistGorjan Jovanovskito help citizens track pollution levels. It uses atraffic lightsystem, with purple for heavily polluted air, red for high levels detected,amberfor moderate levels detected, and green for when the air is safe to inhale.The application relies on both government and volunteersensorsto track hourly air pollution. Unfortunately, government sensors are frequently inoperable and malfunctioning, causing the need for more low-cost, but less accurate, volunteer sensors to be put up by citizens. Faults on government sensors are especially frequent when the pollution is measured is extremely high, according to the AQILHC (Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern).
Skopje topped the ranks in December 2017 as one of the most polluted cities in the world.In 2017, as part of the city's efforts to reduce pollution, aCityTreewas installed, and promoted by German ambassadorChristine Althauser[de].
On 29 November 2019, a march, organised by the Skopje Smog Alarm activist community,attracted thousands of people who opposed the government's lack of action in dealing with the city's pollution, which has worsened since 2017, contributing to around 1300 deaths annually.
The rocky promontory on whichSkopje Fortressstands was the first site to be settled in Skopje. The earliest vestiges of human inhabitance found on this site date from theChalcolithic(4th millennium BC).
Although the Chalcolithic settlement must have been of some significance, it declined during theBronze Age. Archeological research suggests that the settlement always belonged to the same culture, which progressively evolved due to contacts withBalkanandDanubecultures, and later with theAegean. The locality eventually disappeared during theIron AgewhenScupiemerged on Zajčev Rid hill, some 5 km (3.1 mi) west of the fortress promontory. At the centre of the Balkan peninsula and on the road between the Danube andAegean Sea,it was a prosperous locality, although its history is not well known.
During the Iron Age, the area of Skopje was inhabited by theDardani.Illyriantribes lived in most of the area west of Skopje andThraciangroups (Maedi) to the east, whilstPaeonianslived to the south of Skopje.The Dardanians had remained independent after the Roman conquest ofMacedon, and it seems most likely that Dardania lost its independence in 28 BC.
Roman expansion east brought Scupi under Roman rule as a colony oflegionaries, mainly veterans of theLegio VII Claudiaduring the reign of EmperorDomitian(AD 81–96). However, several legions from theRoman province of MacedoniaofCrassus' army may already have been stationed there around 29–28 BC before the official imperial command was instituted.The first mention of the city was made at that period byLivy, who died in AD 17.Scupi first served as a military base to maintain peace in the regionand was officially named "Colonia Flavia Scupinorum",Flaviabeing the name of theemperor's dynasty.Shortly afterwards it became part of the province ofMoesiaduringAugustus's rule. After the division of the province by Domitian in AD 86, Scupi was elevated to colonial status and became a seat of government within the new province ofMoesia Superior. The district calledDardania(within Moesia Superior) was formed into a special province by EmperorDiocletian, with the capital atNaissus. In Roman times the eastern part of Dardania, from Scupi to Naissus, remained inhabited mostly by a local population, mainly ofThracianorigin.
The city's population was very diverse. Engravings on tombstones suggest that only a minority of the population came fromItalia, whilst many veterans were fromDalmatia, southernGaulandSyria. Because of the ethnic diversity of the population,Latinmaintained itself as the main language in the city at the expense ofGreek, which was spoken in most of the Moesian and Macedonian cities.During the following centuries, Scupi experienced prosperity. The period from the end of the 3rd century to the end of the 4th century was particularly flourishing.The first church was founded under the reign of EmperorConstantine the Greatand Scupi became the seat of adiocese. In 395, following the division of theRoman Empireinto two, Scupi became part of theEastern Roman Empire.
An ancient funeral inscription of theIllyriantribeAlbanoiwas found inScupi.
In its zenith, Scupi covered 40 hectares and was closed by a 3.5 m (11 ft) wide wall.It had many monuments, including fournecropoles, a theatre,thermae,and a large Christianbasilica.
In 518, Scupi was destroyed by a violent earthquake,possibly the most devastating the town had ever experienced.At that time, the region was threatened byBarbarian invasions, and the city inhabitants had already fled to the forests and mountains before the disaster occurred.The city was eventually rebuilt byJustinian I. During his reign, many Byzantine towns were relocated on hills and other easily defendable places to face invasions. It was thus transferred to another site: the promontory on whichSkopje Fortressstands.Despite this, Scupi was sacked bySlavsat the end of the 6th century and the city seems to have fallen under Slavic rule in 595.The Slavic tribe which sacked Scupi was probably theBerziti,who had invaded the entire Vardar Valley.However, the Slavs did not settle permanently in the region, which had been already plundered and depopulated, but continued south to the Mediterranean coast.After the Slavic invasion it was deserted for some time and is not mentioned during the following centuries.Perhaps in the late 7th or the early 8th century the Byzantines again settled at this strategic location. Along with the rest of the Upper Vardar valley it became part of the expandingBulgarian Empirein the 830s.
Starting from the end of the 10th century Skopje experienced a period of wars and political troubles. It served as the Bulgarian capital from 972 to 992, andTsar Samuelruled it from 976until 1004, when its governor surrendered it to Byzantine EmperorBasil the Bulgar Slayerin 1004 in exchange for the titles ofpatrikiosandstrategos.It became a centre of a new ByzantineprovincecalledBulgaria.Later Skopje was briefly seized twice by Slavic insurgents who wanted to restore the Bulgarian state. At first in 1040 underPeter Delyan's command,and in 1072 under the orders ofGeorgi Voyteh.In 1081, Skopje was captured byNormantroops led byRobert Guiscardand the city remained in their hands until 1088. Skopje was subsequently conquered by the Serbian Grand PrinceVukanin 1093, and again by the Normans four years later. However, because of epidemics and food shortage, Normans quickly surrendered to the Byzantines.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, Bulgarians and Serbs took advantage of Byzantine decline to create large kingdoms stretching from theDanubeto theAegean Sea.Kaloyanbrought Skopje back into the re-establishedSecond Bulgarian Empirein 1203until his nephewStrezdeclared autonomy along the Upper Vardar with Serbian aid only five years later.In 1209, Strez switched allegiances and recognisedBoril of Bulgariawith whom he led a successful joint campaign against Serbia's first internationally recognised KingStefan Nemanjić.From 1214 to 1230, Skopje was a part of the Byzantine successor state ofEpirusbefore being recaptured byIvan Asen IIand held by Bulgaria until 1246 when the Upper Vardar valley was incorporated once more into another Byzantinerump state– theEmpire of Nicaea.Byzantine conquest was briefly reversed in 1255 by theregentsof the youngMichael Asen I of Bulgaria.Meanwhile, in the parallel civil war for the Crown inTarnovo, the Skopjeboyarand grandson ofStefan NemanjaConstantine Tikhgained the upper hand and ruled until theUprising of Ivaylo, Europe's only successful peasant revolt, led to his deposition from power.
In 1282, Skopje was captured by Serbian KingStefan Milutin.Under the political stability of theNemanjićrule, settlement has spread outside the walls of the fortress, towards Gazi Baba hill.Churches, monasteries and markets were built and tradesmen from theRepublic of VeniceandDubrovnikopened shops. The town greatly benefited from its location near European, Middle Eastern, and African markets. In the 14th century, Skopje became such an important city that KingStefan Dušanmade it the capital of theSerbian Empire. In 1346, he was crowned asEmperor of the Serbs and Greeksin Skopje.After his death the Serbian Empire collapsed into several principalities which were unable to defend themselves against the Ottoman Turks. Skopje was first inherited by theLordship of Prilepand finally taken byVuk Brankovićin the wake of theBattle of Maritsa(1371)before becoming part of theOttoman Empirein 1392.
In 1330, Serbian KingStefan Dečanskimentioned Albanians as being in the district of Skopje and regularly going to the Fair ofSaint Georgewhich convened near the city.
TheOttomansstayed in Skopje for over 520 years and the city's economic life greatly benefited from its position in the middle ofRumelia, the European province of the Ottomans. TheStone Bridge, "one of the most imposing stone bridges to be found in Yugoslavia", was reconstructed under the patronage ofSultan Mehmed II the Conquerorbetween 1451 and 1469.The Ottomans drastically changed the appearance of the city. They organised theBazaarwith itscaravanserais, mosques andbaths.
In thecadastralregister of 1451–52, the Skopje neighborhoodGjin-ko(Gjinaj), is mentioned, being named after the medieval AlbanianGjini family. The neighbourhood displayed mixed Christian Albaniananthroponymywith cases ofSlavicisationpresent (e.g.Palić;Pal+ Slavic suffixić).During this time period, a number oftimariotsof the city are recorded as bearing the nameArnauti(meaningAlbanian) alongside a Muslim name, i.e.Hamza Arnauti,Shahin Arnauti,Jusuf Arnauti. Another group bore Slavic Christian names, whilst also carrying bearing the surnameArbanas/Arnaut, i.e.Bogdan Arbanas,Bogoslav Arbanas,Milosh Arbanas,Bozhidar Arnaut, etc. These individuals are not noted as having the Slavic appellativesdošlac,prišlacoruselica, which were given by Ottoman authorities to new settlers of a given region, likely indicating they were locals.In the year 1451 or 1453 a neighborhood was registered bearing anAromanianname,Mahalle-i Todor Vlaja-Vlaha. Amongst the 45 family heads of this neighborhood, Christian Slavic and Albanian anthroponyms were recorded (Gjon-çe, son ofNoriç,Koljko Bibani,Tusho, son ofRada, etc.), whilst a sizeable number of individuals bearing mixed Slavic-Vlachanthroponyms are also registered, such as:Petko, son ofVllah(Iflak),Petru, son ofDavid,Andreja,kozhuhar,Nikul Çikun, etc.
In themahallahAhrijan Hasanin the year 1451 or 1453, a head of the family from the noble AlbanianMuzaka family, who had converted to Islam, was re-registered amongst the Muslim heads of the family. In the other register of 1467/68, now in the Christian mahallah namedSvetko Samarxhi, amongst the 29 heads of families with Slavic Christian anthroponyms, a number also carried Albanian anthroponyms.In the neighborhood ofJazixhi Shahin, amongst the residents with Muslim names, the head of the family was registered only with the surnameZenebishi, without mentioning his social position or his profession, indicating a higher social status. This may suggest a relation to Hasan Bey Zenebishi, a descendant of theZenebishi familyand theSoubashiof theNahiyahofKalkandelen. Individuals bearing Albanian anthroponyms, be they in conjunction with Islamic, Slavic or Christian ones, also appear in the neighbourhoods ofKasim Fakih,Dursun Saraç,Kujumxhi Mentesheli,Çerep, Jandro, Stanimir, Vllah DançuandRela.A number of Sipahis were also of Albanian origin, with these individuals holdingtimarsin areas which had a Christian Albanian symbiosis with Slavic anthroponyms in the vicinity of Skopje. The defters noted that these were oldsipahis, likely having been landowners. These individual Sipahis were closely related by descent and blood, and taking account kinship ties, even though they had heterogeneous, Christian, Slavic and Oriental names, they appear to have been Albanians. Some have names indicating their origin, such asShimerd Vardarlifrom Skopje, making it likely these timariotes were locals.
Around 1529, the Christians of Skopje were mostly non-convertedSlavsandAlbanians, but alsoRagusanandArmeniantradesmen.Mustafa Pasha Mosque, built in 1492, is reputed to be "one of the most resplendent sacral Islamic buildings in the Balkans."In 1535 all churches were demolished by decree of the Ottoman governor.In 1555, the city was hit by another severe earthquake, collapsing much of the city. TheOld Bazaar of Skopje, the columns of theStone Bridge, and themuralsin the upper parts of theChurch of Saint Panteleimon, Gorno Nereziwere all severely damaged.Some modern sources estimate this earthquake to have been a Category XII (Extreme) on theModified Mercalli intensity scale, although others believe this is an overestimate.
In 1623–1624,Pjeter Mazreku, a Roman Catholicprelate, reported the town was inhabited by "Turks (Muslims), the majority of them beingAlbanians, the rest are of Asiatic origin", Mazreku further wrote, "there are also Jews, Serbs and some Greeks in the town".In the Ottoman period,Turkwas used within Christian writings as a name for a Muslim or for Islamised Albanians.Sources from the years of 1689–1690 considered the town of Shkupi (Skopje) during those periods as part ofAlbania.
Until the 17th century, Skopje experienced a long golden age. Around 1650, the number of inhabitants in Skopje was between 30,000 and 60,000, and the city contained more than 10,000 houses. It was then one of the only big cities on the territory of futureYugoslavia, together withBelgradeandSarajevo. At that time,Dubrovnik, which was a busy harbour, had not even had 7,000 inhabitants.The city severely suffered from theGreat Turkish Warat the end of the 17th century and consequently experienced recession until the 19th century. In 1689, theHabsburgsseized Skopje which was already weakened by acholera epidemic.The same day, generalSilvio Piccolominibegan theSkopje fire of 1689, attempting to end the epidemic.It is however possible that he wanted to avenge damages that the Ottomans caused in theBattle of Viennain 1683.Skopje burned for two days but the general himself perished of the plague and his leaderless army was routed.The Austrian presence in Macedonia motivated Slav uprisings. Nevertheless, the Austrians left the country within the year and theHajduks, the leaders of the uprisings, had to follow them in their retreat north of the Balkans.Some were arrested by the Ottomans, such asPetar Karposh, who was impaled on Skopje's Stone Bridge.
After the war, Skopje was in ruins. Most of the official buildings were restored or rebuilt, but the city experienced newplagueandcholeraepidemics and many inhabitants emigrated.Ottoman Empireas a whole entered in recession and political decline. Many rebellions and pillages occurred in Macedonia during the 18th century, either led by Ottoman outlaws,JanissariesorHajduks.An estimation conducted by French officers around 1836 revealed that at that time Skopje only had around 10,000 inhabitants. It was surpassed by two other towns of present-day North Macedonia:Bitola(40,000) andŠtip(15–20,000).
Skopje began to recover from decades of decline after 1850. At that time, the city experienced a slow but steady demographic growth, mainly due to the rural exodus of Slavic Macedonians. It was also fuelled by the exodus of Muslims from thePrincipalities of SerbiaandBulgaria, which were gaining autonomy and independence from the Empire at that time.During theTanzimat reforms,nationalismarose in the Ottoman Empire and in 1870 a newBulgarian Exarchatewas established and its separate diocese was created, based onethnic identity, rather than religious principles.The Slavic population of the bishopric of Skopje voted in 1874 overwhelmingly, by 91% in favour of joining the Exarchate and became part of theBulgarian Millet.Economic growth was permitted by the construction of the Skopje-Salonicarailway in 1873.The train station was built south of theVardarand this contributed to the relocation of economic activities on that side of the river, which had never been urbanised before.Because of the rural exodus, the share of Christians in the city population increased. Some of the newcomers became part of the local elite and helped to spread nationalist ideasIn 1877, Skopje was chosen as the capital city of the newKosovo Vilayet, which encompassed present-dayKosovo, north-western Macedonia and theSanjak of Novi Pazar.
In statistics gathered by Bulgarian ethnographerVasil Kanchovin 1900, the City of Skopje was inhabited by 31,900 people, of whom 15,000 were Turks, 13,000 Christian Bulgarians, 1,920 Romani, 800 Jews, 450 Vlachs, 150 Christian Albanians, 50 Christian Greeks, 30Circassiansand 500 inhabitants of various other ethnicities.Kanchov wrote in the same year that many Albanians declared themselves as Turks. In Skopje, the population that declared itself Turkish "was of Albanian blood", but it "had beenTurkifiedafter the Ottoman invasion, includingSkanderbeg", referring to Islamisation. Bulgarian literary historianYordan Ivanovwrote in 1915 that Albanians, since they did not have their own alphabet, due to a lack of consolidated national consciousness and influenced by foreign propaganda, declared themselves as Turks, Greeks and Bulgarians, depending on which religion they belonged to. Albanians were losing their mother tongue in Skopje.German linguistGustav Weiganddescribed that Skopje's Muslim population of "Turks" or "Ottomans" during the late Ottoman period were mainly Albanians who spoke Turkish in public and Albanian at home.In 1905, the city had 32,000 inhabitants, making it the largest of the vilayet, although closely followed byPrizrenwith its 30,000 inhabitants.At the beginning of the 20th century, local economy was focused ondyeing,weaving,tanning,ironworksand wine and flour processing.
Skopje was one of the five main centres of theInternal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisationwhen it organised the 1903Ilinden uprising. Its revolutionarynetwork in the regionled byNikola Pushkarovwas not well-developed and the lack of weapons was a serious problem. At the outbreak of the uprising, the rebel forces derailed a military train.On 3 and 5 August respectively, they attacked an Ottoman unit guarding the bridge on the Vardar river and gave a battle in the "St. Jovan" monastery. In the next few days, the band was pursued by numerousBashibozuksand moved to Bulgaria.
Following theYoung Turk Revolutionin 1908, the Ottoman Empire experienced democracy and several political parties were created.However, some of the policies implemented by theYoung Turks, such as a tax rise and the interdiction of ethnic-based political parties, discontented minorities. Albanians opposed the nationalist character of the movement and led local uprisings in 1910 and 1912. During the latter, they managed to seize most of Kosovo and took Skopje on 11 August. On 18 August, the insurgents signed the Üsküb agreement which provided for the creation of an autonomous Albanian province and they were amnestied the day later.
Following an alliance contracted in 1912,Bulgaria,GreeceandSerbiadeclared war on theOttoman Empire. Their goal was to definitively expel the Ottomans from Europe. TheFirst Balkan Warstarted on 8 October 1912 and lasted six weeks. Serbians reached Skopje on 26 October. Ottoman forces had left the city the day before.During the conflict,Chetniks, a Serb irregular force razed the Albanian quarter of Skopje andkilled numerous Albanian inhabitants from the city.The Serbian annexation led to the exodus of 725 Muslim families which left the city on 27 January 1913. The same year, the city population was evaluated at 37,000 by the Serbian authorities.
In 1915, during theFirst World War, Serbian Macedonia was invaded by Bulgaria, which captured Skopje on 22 October 1915. Serbia, allied to theTriple Entente, was helped by France,Britain,Greece, and Italy, which formed theMacedonian front. Following a great Allied offensive in 1918, theArmée française d'Orientreached Skopje 29 September and took the city by surprise.After the end of the World War, Vardar Macedonia became part of the newKingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became "Kingdom of Yugoslavia" in 1929.A mostly foreignethnic Serbruling class gained control, imposing large-scale repression.The policies of de-Bulgarisation and assimilation were pursued.At that time part of the young locals, repressed by the Serbs, tried to find a separate way of ethnic Macedonian development.In 1931, in a move to formally decentralise the country, Skopje was named the capital of theVardar Banovinaof theKingdom of Yugoslavia. Until theSecond World War, Skopje experienced strong economic growth, and its population increased. The city had 41,066 inhabitants in 1921, 64,807 in 1931, and 80,000 in 1941.Although in an underdeveloped region, it attracted wealthy Serbs who opened businesses and contributed to the modernisation of the city.In 1941, Skopje had 45 factories, half of the industry in the whole of Socialist Macedonia.
In 1941, during the Second World War, Yugoslavia was invaded byNazi Germany. Germans seized Skopje on 8 Apriland left it to their Bulgarian allies on 22 April 1941.To ensure theBulgarisationof the society, authorities closed Serbian schools and churches, opening new schools and a higher education institute, the King Boris University.The 4,000 Jews of Skopje were all deported in 1943 to theTreblinka extermination campwhere almost all of them were killed.
Skopje was liberatedon 13 November 1944 by units of theBulgarian People's Army(Bulgaria having switched sides in the warin September) aided byYugoslav Partisansof theMacedonian National Liberation Army.Skopje became the capital city of the newly proclaimedDemocratic Federal Macedoniaas set up by theASNOMon 2 August 1944 in theBulgarian occupation zone in Yugoslavia.
AfterWorld War II, Skopje greatly benefited fromSocialist Yugoslavpolicies which encouraged industry and the development of Macedonian cultural institutions. Consequently, Skopje became home to a national library, a philharmonic orchestra, a university, and the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. However, its post-war development was altered by the1963 earthquakewhich occurred on 26 July. Although relatively weak in magnitude, it caused enormous damage in the city and can be compared to the1960 Agadir earthquake.The disaster killed 1,070 people, injuring 3,300 others. 16,000 people were buried alive in ruins and 70% of the population lost their home.Many educational facilities, factories and historical buildings were destroyed.
After theearthquake, reconstruction was quick. It had a deep psychological impact on the population because neighbourhoods were split and people were relocated to new houses and buildings they were not familiar with.Many Albanians, some from Kosovo participated in the reconstruction effort.Reconstruction was finished by 1980, even if many elements were never built because funds were exhausted.Skopje cityscape was drastically changed and the city became a true example ofmodernist architecture. Demographic growth was very important after 1963, and Skopje had 408,100 inhabitants in 1981.After 1963, rural youth migrated to Skopje and were involved in the reconstruction process resulting in a large growth of the urban Macedonian population.The Albanian population of Skopje also increased as people from the northern villages migrated to the city and others came from Kosovo either to provide manpower for reconstruction or fled the deteriorating political situation, especially during the 1990s.However, during the 1980s and the 1990s, the country experienced inflation and recession and the local economy heavily suffered. The situation became better during the 2000s thanks to new investments. Many landmarks were restored and the "Skopje 2014" project renewed the appearance of the city centre.
TheFlag of Skopjeis a red banner in proportions 1:2 with a gold-colouredcoat of arms of the citypositioned in the upper-left corner. It is either vertical or horizontal, but thevertical versionwas the first to be used.
The coat of arms of the city was adopted in the 1950s. It depicts theStone Bridgewith theVardarriver, theKale Fortressand the snow-capped peaks of theŠar mountains.
Being the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, Skopje enjoys a particular status granted by law. The last revision of its status was made in 2004. Since then, the City of Skopje has been divided into 10 municipalities which all have a council and a mayor, like all of the country's municipalities. Municipalities only deal with matters specific of their territory, and the City of Skopje deals with matters that concern all of them, or that cannot be divided between two or more municipalities.
The City of Skopje is part of theSkopje Statistical Region, which has no political or administrative power.
The City Council consists of 45 members who serve a four-year term. It primarily deals with budget, global orientations and relations between the city and the government. Several commissions exist to treat more specific topics, such as urbanism, finances, environment of local development.The President of the council is elected by the Council Members. Since 2021 the president has been Trajko Slaveski, member ofVMRO-DPMNE.
Following the 2021 local elections, the City Council is constituted as follows:
TheMayor of Skopjeis elected every four years.
The mayor represents the City of Skopje and can submit ideas to the council, manages the administrative bodies and their officials.
Skopje was first divided into administrative units in 1945, but the first municipalities were created in 1976. They were five:Centar,Čair,Karpoš,Gazi BabaandKisela Voda. After the 1991 independence of the country, power was centralised and municipalities lost much of their competences. A 1996 law restored them and created two new municipalities:Ǵorče PetrovandŠuto Orizari. After theinsurgency between Albanian rebels and Macedonian forcesin 2001, a new law was enacted in 2004 to incorporateSaraj Municipalityinto the City of Skopje. Saraj is mostly populated by Albanians and, since then, Albanians represent more than 20% of the city population. Thus Albanian became the second official language of the city administration, something which was one of the claims of the Albanian rebels. The same year,Aerodrom Municipalityseparated itself from Kisela Voda, andButel Municipalityfrom Čair.
Municipalities are administered by a council of 23 members elected every four years. They also have a mayor and several departments (education, culture, finances...). The mayor primarily deals with these departments.
Skopje is a medium city at the European level. Being the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, Skopje concentrates a large share of the national economy. TheSkopje Statistical Region, which encompasses the City of Skopje and some neighbouring municipalities, produces 45.5% of the Macedonian GDP.In 2009, the regional GDP per capita amounted to US$6,565, or 155% of the Macedonian GDP per capita.This figure is, however, smaller than the one of neighboringSofia(US$10,106),Sarajevo(US$10,048)orBelgrade(US$7,983),but higher than the one ofTirana(US$4,126).
Because there are no other large cities in the country, and because of political and economic centralisation, a large number of Macedonians living outside of Skopje work in the capital city. The dynamism of the city also encouragesrural exodus, not only from North Macedonia, but also fromKosovo,Albaniaand SouthernSerbia.
In 2009, Skopje had 26,056 firms but only 145 of them had a large size. The large majority of them are either small (12,017) or very small (13,625).A large share of the firms deal with trade of goods (9,758), 3,839 are specialised in business and real estate, and 2,849 are manufacturers.Although few in number, large firms account for 51% of the local production outside finance.
The city industry is dominated by food processing, textile, printing and metal processing. In 2012, it accounted for 30% of the city's GDP.Most of the industrial areas are inGazi Baba municipality, on the major routes and rail lines toBelgradeandThessaloniki.Notably, theArcelorMittal, Makstil steel plants and the Skopje Brewery are there. Other zones are between Aerodrom and Kisela Voda, along the railway toGreece. These zones comprise Alkaloid Skopje (pharmaceuticals), Rade Končar (electrical supplies),Imperial Tobacco, and Ohis (fertilisers). Twospecial economic zonesalso exist, around the airport and the Okta refinery. They have attracted several foreign companies, such asJohnson Controls,Johnson MattheyandVan Hool.
As the country's financial capital, Skopje is the seat of theMacedonian Stock Exchange, of theNational Bank, and of most of the country's banking, insurance, and telecommunication companies, such asMakedonski Telekom,Komercijalna banka SkopjeandStopanska Banka. The services sector produces 60% of the city GDP.
Besides many small traditional shops, Skopje has two large markets, the "Zelen Pazar" (green market) and the "Bit Pazar" (flea market). They are both considered local institutions.However, since the 1970s, retailing has largely been modernised and Skopje now has many supermarkets and shopping centres. The largest, Skopje City Mall, opened in 2012. It comprises aCarrefourhypermarket, 130 shops and a cinema, and employs 2,000 people.
51% of the Skopje active population is employed in small firms. 52% of the population work in the services sector, 34% in industry, and the remaining is mainly employed in administration.
The unemployment rate for theSkopje Statistical Regionwas at 27% in 2009, three points under the national rate (30%). The neighbouringPolog Regionhad a similar rate, but the less affected region was theSouth-West, with 22%.Unemployment in Skopje mainly affects men, who represent 56% of job-seekers, people between 25 and 44 years old (45% of job-seekers), and non-qualified people (43%).Unemployment also concernsRoma people, who represent 4.63% of the city population but affects 70% of the active population in the community.
The average net monthly wage in Skopje was at €400 in October 2010, which represented 120% of the national figure.The average wage in Skopje was then lower than inSarajevo(€522),Sofia(€436),and inBelgrade(€440).
According to the results of the 2021 census, the City of Skopje had 526,502 inhabitants.Skopje's employment area covers a large part of the country, includingVeles,KumanovoandTetovo, and totaling more than one million inhabitants.
Skopje contains roughly a quarter of North Macedonia's population. The second most populous municipality,Kumanovo, had 107,632 inhabitants in 2011,and anurban unitof 76,272 inhabitants in 2002.
Before theAustro-Turkish warand the1689 Great Fire, Skopje was one of the biggest cities in theBalkans, with a population estimated between 30,000 and 60,000 inhabitants.After the fire set by the retreating Austrian forces, it experienced a long period of decline and only had 10,000 inhabitants in 1836.However, the population started to rise again after 1850 and reached 32,000 inhabitants in 1905.In the 20th century, Skopje was one of the fastest-growing cities inYugoslavia, and it had 448,200 inhabitants in 1981. Since then, the demographic growth has continued at a steady rate.
Ethnic groups in Greater Skopje consist of the following:
Skopje, just like North Macedonia as a whole, is characterised by a large ethnic diversity. The city is in a region where Macedonians and Albanians meet, and it has had populations of Bulgarians, Romani, Turks, Jews, and Serbs through its history. Skopje was mainly a Muslim city until the 19th century when large numbers of Christians started to settle there. According to the 2021 census, Macedonians were the largest ethnic group in Skopje, with 309,107 inhabitants, or 58.71% of the population. Then came Albanians with 120,293 inhabitants (22.85%), Roma people with 18,498 (3.51%), Serbs (9,478 inhabitants), Turks (8,524), Bosniaks (7,365) andAromanians(also known as "Vlachs", 2,778). 6,284 people did not belong to any of these groups.
Macedonians form an overwhelming majority of the population in the municipalities ofAerodrom,Centar,Ǵorče Petrov,KarpošandKisela Voda, which are all south of theVardar.They also form a majority inButelandGazi Babawhich are north of the river. Albanians form a majority inČairwhich roughly corresponds to theOld Bazaar, and inSaraj.They form a large minority in Buteland Gazi Baba.Šuto Orizari, on the northern edge of the city, is predominantly Roma.When an ethnic minority forms at least 20% of the population in a municipality, its language can become official on the local level. Thus, in Čair and Saraj schools and administration use Albanian, and Romani in Šuto Orizari.The latter is the only municipality in the world where Romani is an official language.
Relations between the two largest groups, Macedonians and Albanians, are sometimes difficult, as in the rest of the country. Each group tolerates the other but they tend to avoid each other and live in what can appear as two parallel worlds.Both Macedonians and Albanians view themselves each as the original population of Skopje and the other as newcomers.The Roma minority is on its side very deprived. Its exact size is not known because many Macedonian Roma declare themselves as belonging to other ethnic groups or simply avoid censuses. However, even if official figures are underestimated, Skopje is the city in the world with the largest Roma population.
Religious affiliation is diverse: Macedonians, Serbs, and Aromanians are mainly Orthodox, with the majority affiliated to theMacedonian Orthodox Church; Turks are almost entirely Muslim; those of Albanian ethnicity are largely Muslim, although Skopje also has a sizeableRoman CatholicAlbanian minority, into whichMother Teresawas born; the Roma (Gypsies) represent a mixture (in almost equal numbers) of Muslim and Orthodox religious heritage.
According to the 2002 census, 68.5% of the population of Skopje belonged to theEastern Orthodox Church, whilst 28.6% belonged toIslam. The city also had Catholic (0.5%) andProtestant(0.04%) minorities.The Catholics are served by the Latinbishopric of Skopje, in which is also vested theByzantine Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Macedonia.
UntilWorld War II, Skopje had a significant Jewish minority which mainly descended from SpanishSephardiswho had escaped theInquisition. The community comprised 2,424 members in 1939 (representing about 3% of the city population), but most of them were deported and killed byNazis. After the war, most of the survivors settled in Israel.Today the city has around 200 Jewish inhabitants (about 0.04% of the population).
Because of its 520-year Ottoman past, and the fact that many of its inhabitants today are Muslims, Skopje has more mosques than churches. Religious communities often complain about the lack of infrastructure and new places of worship are often built.Skopje is the seat of many Macedonian religious organisations, such as theMacedonian Orthodox Churchand the Islamic Religious Union of Macedonia. It has an Orthodox cathedral and seminary, severalmadrasahs, a Roman Catholic cathedral and a synagogue.
Skopje has several public and private hospitals and specialised medical institutions, such as theFilip II Hospital, a psychiatric hospital, two obstetric hospitals, a gerontology hospital, and institutes for respiratory and ocular diseases.In 2012, Skopje had a ratio of one physician per 251.6 inhabitants, a figure higher than the national ratio (one per 370.9). The ratio of medical specialists was also higher than in the rest of the country. However, the ratio of hospital beds, pharmacists and dentists was lower in Skopje.The population in Skopje enjoys better health standards than other Macedonians. In 2010, the mortality rate was at 8.6‰ in Skopje and 9.3‰ on the national level. The infant mortality rate was at 6.8‰ in Skopje and 7.6‰ in North Macedonia.
Skopje's citizenry is generally more educated than the rest of the country. 16% of Skopjans have graduated from university in contrast to 10% for the rest of the country. The number of people with a complete lack of education or ones who received a partial education is lower in Skopje at 9% compared to the provincial average of 17%. 80% of Macedonian citizens who hold a PhD take up residence in Skopje.
Skopje has 21 secondary schools; 5 of which serve as general high-school gymnasiums and 16 vocational schools.The city is also host to several higher education institutions, the most notable of which isSs. Cyril and Methodius University, founded in 1949. The university has 23 departments, 10 research institutes and is attended by an average of 50,000 students.After the country's independence in 1991, several private universities were brought into existence. The largest private universities in Skopje areEuropean University Skopjewith 7 departmentsandFON Universitywith 9 departments respectively.
Skopje is the largest media centre in North Macedonia. Of the 818 newspapers surveyed in 2000 by the Ministry of Information, over 600 had their headquarters in Skopje. The dailyDnevnik, founded in 1996, with 60 000 runs per day is the most printed in the country. Also based in Skopje,Večeris pulled 50,000 copies and the state owns one-third of its capital, as well asNova Makedonija, reprinted 20,000 copies. Other major newspapers in Skopje, totally private, are Utrinski Vesnik (30,000 copies), Vest (25,000 copies), andVreme(15,000 copies). Magazines Fokus (12,000 copies), Start (10,000 copies), and Denes (7,500 copies) also have their headquarters in Skopje.
The city is home of the studios ofMacedonian Radio-Television(MRT), the country's public radio and television. Founded in 1966, it operates with three national broadcast channels, twenty-four hours a day. The most popular private television stations areSitel,Kanal 5, Telma, Alfa TV, and AlsatM.MRT also operates radio stations with national coverage, the private station Skopje's Kanal 77 is the only one to have such a span. RadioAntenna 5and Metropolis are two other major private stations that have their headquarters in Skopje.
Also, the city boasts big news agencies in the country, both public, such as theMedia Information Agency, and private, such as theMakfax.
As the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, Skopje has many major sporting facilities. The city has three large swimming pools, two of which feature Olympic pools. These pools are particularly relevant to coaching water polo teams. Skopje also boasts many football stadiums, like Ilinden in Čair and Železarnica, which can accommodate between 4,000 and 4,500 spectators. The basketball court Kale can accommodate 2,200 people and the court of Jane Sandanski has a 6,000 seat capacity.
The largest stadium remainsToše Proeski Arena. The stadium, built in 1947 and named until 2008, City Stadium Skopjeexperienced a total renovation, begun in 2009 to meet the standards of FIFA. Fully renovated the stadium contains 33,460 seats,and a health spa and fitness area. TheBoris Trajkovski Sports Centeris the largest sports complex in the country with 6,250 seats. It was opened in 2008 and named after former presidentBoris Trajkovski, who died in 2004. It includes rooms dedicated to handball, basketball, and volleyball, a bowling alley, a fitness area, and an ice hockey court. Its main hall, which regularly hosts concerts, holds around 10,000 people.
FK VardarandFK Rabotničkiare the two most popular football teams in the city. Vardar plays in thesecond division, whilst Rabotnicki plays in thefirst division. Their games are held at Toše Proeski Arena, like those of the national team. The city is also home to many smaller football clubs, such as:FK Makedonija Ǵorče Petrov,FK Gorno Lisiče,FK Lokomotiva Skopje,FK Metalurg Skopje,FK Madžari SolidarnostandFK Skopje, who play in first, second or third national league. Another popular sport in North Macedonia is basketball, represented in particular by the teamsMZT SkopjeandRabotnički. Handball is illustrated byRK VardarPRO andRK Metalurg Skopje, also the women's teamŽRK MetalurgandŽRK Vardar. The city co-hosted the2008 European Women's Handball Championshiptogether withOhrid,and hosted the2017 UEFA Super Cup, the match between the two giants of the European footballReal MadridandManchester United
Skopje is near three other capital cities,Pristina(87 km (54 mi) away),Tirana(291 km) andSofia(245 km).Thessalonikiis 233 km (145 mi) south andBelgradeis 433 km (269 mi) north.Skopje is also at the crossroad of twoPan-European corridors:Corridor X, which runs betweenAustriaandGreece, andCorridor VIII, which runs from theAdriaticin Albania to theBlack Seain Bulgaria. Corridor X links Skopje to Thessaloniki, Belgrade, and Western Europe, whilst Corridor VIII links it with Tirana and Sofia.
Corridor X locally corresponds to theM-1 motorway(E75), which is the longest highway in North Macedonia. It also corresponds to theTabanovce-Gevgelijarailway. Corridor VIII, less developed, corresponds to the M-4 motorway and theKičevo-Beljakovce railway. Skopje is not quite on the Corridor X and the M-1 does not pass on the city territory. Thus the junction between the M-1 and M-4 is some 20 km (12 mi) east, close to the airport. Although Skopje is geographically close to other major cities, movement of people and goods is not optimised, especially withAlbania. This is mainly due to poor infrastructure. As a result, 61.8% of Skopjans have never been toTirana, whilst only 6.7% have never been toThessalonikiand 0% toSofia. Furthermore, 26% of Thessalonians, 33% of Sofians and 37% of Tiranans have never been to Skopje.
The first highways were built during the Yugoslav period, when Skopje was linked through theBrotherhood and Unity Highwayto, what was then, the Yugoslav capitalBelgradeto the North, and the Greek border to the South.
The main railway station in Skopje is serviced by theBelgrade-Thessalonikiand Skopje-Pristinainternational lines.After the completion of theCorridor VIIIrailway project, currently scheduled for 2030, the city will also be linked toTiranaandSofia.Daily trains also link Skopje with other towns of North Macedonia, such asKumanovo,Kičevo,Štip,BitolaorVeles.
Skopje has several minor railway stations but the city does not have its own railway network and they are only serviced by intercity or international lines. On the railway linking themain stationto Belgrade and Thessaloniki are Dračevo and Dolno Lisiče stations, and on the railway to Kičevo are Skopje-North, Ǵorče Petrov and Saraj stations. Several other stations are freight-only.
Skopje coach station opened in 2005 and is built right under the main railway station. It can host 450 coaches in a day.Coach connections reach more destinations than train connections, connecting Skopje to many domestic and foreign destinations includingIstanbul,Sofia, Prague, Hamburg andStockholm.
Skopje has a bus network managed by the city and operated by three companies. The oldest and largest is JSP Skopje, a public company founded in 1948. JSP lost its monopoly on public transport in 1990 and two new companies, Sloboda Prevoz and Mak Ekspres, obtained several lines. However, most of the network is still in the hands of JSP which operates 67 lines out of 80. Only 24 lines are urban, the others serving localities around the city.Many of the JSP vehicles are redYutong City Masterdouble-decker buses built by Chinese bus manufacturerYutongand designed to resemble the classic BritishAEC Routemaster.
A tram network has long been planned in Skopje and the idea was first proposed in the 1980s. The project became real in 2006 when the mayor Trifun Kostovski asked for feasibility studies. His successor Koce Trajanovski launched a call for tenders in 2010 and the first line is scheduled for 2019.
A new network for small buses started to operate in June 2014, not to replace but to decrease the number of big buses in the city centre.
The airport was built in 1928. The first commercial flights in Skopje were introduced in 1929 when the Yugoslav carrierAeroputintroduced a route linking the city with the capital,Belgrade.A year later the route was extended toThessalonikiin Greece, and further extended to Greek capitalAthensin 1933.In 1935 Aeroput linked Skopje withBitolaandNiš, and also operated a longer international route linkingViennaandThessalonikithroughZagreb, Belgrade and Skopje.After the Second World War, Aeroput was replaced byJAT Yugoslav Airlines, which linked Skopje to a number of domestic and international destinations until the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.
Skopje International Airportis inPetrovec, 20 km (12 mi) east of the city. Since 2008, it has been managed by the TurkishTAV Airports Holdingand it can accommodate up to four million passengers per year.The annual traffic has constantly risen since 2008, reaching one million passengers in 2014.
Skopje's airport has connections to several European cities, includingAthens, Vienna,Bratislava,Zürich, Brussels,Oslo,Istanbul, London andRome. It also maintains a direct connection withDubaiandDoha, Qatar.
Skopje is home to the largest cultural institutions of the country, such as theNational and University Library "St. Kliment of Ohrid", theMacedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the National Theatre, the National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. Amongst the local institutions are the Brothers Miladinov Library which has more than a million documents, the Cultural Information Centre which manages festivals, exhibitions and concerts, and the House of Culture Kočo Racin which is dedicated tocontemporary artand young talents.
Skopje has also several foreign cultural centres, such as aGoethe-Institut,aBritish Council,anAlliance française,anAmerican Corner.
The city has several theatres and concert halls. The Univerzalna Sala, seating 1,570, was built in 1966 and is used for concerts, fashion shows, and congresses. The Metropolis Arena, designed for large concerts, has 3,546 seats. Other large halls include the Macedonian Opera and Ballet (800 seats), the National Theatre (724), and the Drama Theatre (333).Other smaller venues exist, such as the Albanian Theatre and the Youth Theatre. A Turkish Theatre and a Philharmonic hall are under construction.
The largest museum in Skopje is theMuseum of the Republic of North Macedoniawhich details the history of the country. Itsiconsand lapidary collections are particularly rich.The Macedonian Archeological Museum, opened in 2014, keeps some of the best archeological finds in North Macedonia, dating fromPrehistoryto the Ottoman period. TheNational Gallery of Macedoniaexhibits paintings dating from the 14th to the 20th century in two formerhammamsof theOld Bazaar. TheContemporary Art Museumwas built after the 1963 earthquake thanks to international assistance. Its collections include Macedonian and foreign art, with works byFernand Léger,André Masson,Pablo Picasso,Hans Hartung,Victor Vasarely,Alexander Calder,Pierre Soulages,Alberto BurriandChristo.
TheSkopje City Museumis inside the remains of the old railway station, destroyed by the 1963 earthquake. It is dedicated to local history and it has four departments: archeology,ethnology, history, and art history.TheMemorial House of Mother Teresawas built in 2009 on the original site of the church in which the nun had been baptised.TheMuseum of the Macedonian Struggleis dedicated to the modern national history and the struggle of Macedonians for their independence. Nearby is theHolocaust Memorial Center for the Jews of Macedonia. The Macedonian Museum of Natural History showcases some 4,000 itemswhilst the 12-haSkopje Zoois home to 300 animals.
Although Skopje has been destroyed many times throughout its history, it still has many historical landmarks which reflect the successive occupations of the city. Skopje has one of the biggest Ottoman urban complexes in Europe, with many Ottoman monuments still serving their original purpose. It was also a ground formodernistexperiments in the 20th century, following the 1963 earthquake. At the beginning of the 21st century, it is again the subject of massive building campaigns, thanks to the "Skopje 2014" project. Skopje is thus an environment where old, new, progressist, reactionary, eastern and western perspectives coexist.
Skopje has some remains of Prehistorical architecture which can be seen on theTumba MadžariNeolithic site.On the other side of the city lie the remains of the ancientScupi, with ruins of a theatre, thermae and a basilica.TheSkopje Aqueduct, between Scupi and the city centre, is rather mysterious because its date of construction is unknown. It seems to have been built by the Byzantines or the Turks, but it was already out of use in the 16th century.It consists of 50 arches, worked in cloisonné masonry.
Skopje Fortresswas rebuilt several times before it was destroyed by the 1963 earthquake. Since then, it has been restored to its medieval appearance. It is the only medieval monument in Skopje, but several churches around the city illustrate theVardar architectural schoolwhich flourished around 1300. Amongst these churches are the ones aroundMatka Canyon(St Nicholas, St Andrew and Matka churches). Thechurch of Saint PanteleimoninGorno Nerezidates from the 12th century. Its expressive frescoes anticipate theItalian primitives.
Examples ofOttoman architectureare in theOld Bazaar. Mosques in Skopje are usually simple in design, with a square base and a singledomeandminaret. Their entrance is usually emphasised by a portico, as onMustafa Pasha Mosque, dating from the 15th century. Some mosques show some originality in their appearance:Sultan Muradand Yahya Pasha mosques have lost their dome and have a pyramidal roof, whilst Isa Bey mosque has a rectangular base, two domes and two side wings. The Aladža Mosque was originally covered with blue faience, but it disappeared in the 1689 Great Fire. However, some tiles are still visible on the adjoiningtürbe. Other Ottoman public monuments include the 16th-century clock tower, abedesten, threecaravanserais, twohammamsand theStone Bridge, first mentioned in 1469.
The oldest churches in the city centre, theAscensionand St Dimitri churches, were built in the 18th century, after the 1689 Great Fire. They were both renovated in the 19th century. The Church of the Ascension is particularly small it is half-buried in order not to overlook neighbouring mosques.In the 19th century, several new churches were built, including the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which is a large three-nave building designed byAndrey Damyanov.
After 1912, when Skopje was annexed by Serbia, the city was drastically westernised. Wealthy Serbs built mansions and town houses such as the 1926Ristiḱ Palace. The architecture of that time is very similar to the one of Central Europe, but some buildings are more creative, such as theNeo-MoorishArab House and theNeo-Byzantinetrain station, both built in 1938.Modernismappeared as early as 1933 with the former Ethnographic Museum (today the City Gallery), designed byMilan Zloković.However, modernist architecture only fully developed in Skopje after the 1963 earthquake. The reconstruction of the city centre was partially planned by JapaneseKenzo Tangewho designed the new train station.Macedonian architects also took part in the reconstruction:Georgi Konstantinovskidesigned the City Archives building in 1968 and the Hall of residence Goce Delčev in 1975, whilstJanko Konstantinovdesigned the Telecommunication Centre and the main post office (1974–1989).Slavko Brezovskidesigned theChurch of St. Clement of Ohrid.These two buildings are noted for their originality although they are directly inspired bybrutalism.
The reconstruction turned Skopje into a proper modernist city, with large blocks of flats, austere concrete buildings and scattered green spaces. The city centre was considered as a grey and unattractive place when local authorities unveiled the "Skopje 2014" project in 2010.It made plans to erect a large number of statues, fountains, bridges, and museums at a cost of about €500 million.
The project has generated controversy: critics have described the new landmark buildings as signs of reactionaryhistoricistaesthetics.Also, the government has been criticised for its cost and the original lack of representation of national minorities in the coverage of its set of statues and memorials.However, representations of minorities have since been included amongst the monuments. The scheme is accused of turning Skopje to atheme park,which is viewed as nationalistickitsch,and has made Skopje an example to see how national identities are constructed and how this construction is mirrored in the urban space.
TheSkopje Jazz Festivalhas been held annually in October since 1981. It is part of the European Jazz Network and the European Forum of World Wide Festivals. The artists' profiles include fusion,acid jazz,Latin jazz,smooth jazz, andavant-garde jazz.Ray Charles,Tito Puente,Gotan Project,Al Di Meola,Youssou N'Dour, amongst others, have performed at the festival. Another music festival in Skopje is the Blues and Soul Festival. It is a relatively new event in the Macedonian cultural scene that occurs every summer in early July.Past guests includeLarry Coryell,Mick Taylor& the All-Stars Blues Band,Candy Dulfer& Funky Stuff,João Bosco,the Temptations,Tolo MartonTrio,Blues Wire, andPhil Guy.
The Skopje Cultural Summer Festival is a renowned cultural event that takes place in Skopje each year during the summer. The festival is a member of theInternational Festivals and Events Association(IFEA) and it includes musical concerts, operas, ballets, plays, art and photograph exhibitions, movies, and multimedia projects that gather 2,000 participants from around the world each year including theSt PetersburgTheatre, the Chamber Orchestra of theBolshoi Theatre,Irina Arkhipova,Viktor Tretiakov, The Theatre of Shadows,Michel Dalberto, andDavid Burgess.
May Opera Evenings is a festival that has occurred annually in Skopje since 1972 and is dedicated to promoting opera amongst the general public. Over the years, it has evolved into a stage on which artists from some 50 countries have performed. There is one other major international theatre festival that takes place each year at the end of September, the Young Open Theater Festival (MOT), which was organised for the first time in May 1976 by the Youth Cultural Center – Skopje.More than 700 theatrical performances have been presented at this festival so far, most of them being alternative,experimental theatregroups engaging young writers and actors. The MOT International Theatre Festival is also a member of theInternational Network for Contemporary Performing Arts or IETM.Within the framework of the MOT Festival, the Macedonian National Center of the International Theater Institute (ITI) was established, and at the 25th ITI World Congress in Munich in 1993, it became a regular member of this theatre association. The festival has an international character, always representing theatres from all over the world that present and enhance the exchange and circulation of young-fresh-experimental-avant-garde theatrical energy and experience between its participants on one side and the audience on the other.
TheSkopje Film Festivalis an annual event held in the city every March. Over 50 films are shown at this five-day festival, mostly from North Macedonia and Europe, but also including some non-commercial film productions from all over the world.
Skopje has a diverse nightlife. There is a large emphasis on casinos, many of which are associated with hotels. In 2010, the Colosseum club was named fifth on a list of the best clubs inSouth-eastern Europe.Armin van Buuren,Above and Beyond,The Shapeshiftersare just some of the many musicians that have visited the club.Nighttime concerts in local, regional and global music are often held at theToše Proeski ArenaandBoris Trajkovski Sports Center.For middle-aged people, places for having fun are also thekafeanaswhere traditionalMacedonian foodis served and traditionalMacedonian music(Starogradska muzika) is played, butmusic from all the Balkans, particularlySerbian folk musicis also popular. Apart from the traditional Macedonian restaurants, there are restaurants featuring international cuisines.TheOld Bazaarwas a popular nightlife destination in the past. Thenational governmenthas created a project to revive nightlife in the Old Bazaar. The closing time in shops, cafés and restaurants was extended due to the high attendances recorded. In the bazaar's restaurants, along with the traditional Macedonian wine and food, dishes of theOttoman cuisineare also served.
Skopje istwinnedwith: