Introducing SKOPJE 🇲🇰 | Europe’s Most UNDERRATED Capital City?

One day in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje! Let me introduce you to one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities, we’ll walk around the main points of interest & talk about the region’s turbulent history.

Together we’ll walk the streets of Skopje and explore the several thousand years of history ranging from Alexander the Great and the ancient kingdom of Macedon, through to the five hundred years of Ottoman rule and the eventual creation of North Macedonia.

We start on Skopje’s iconic stone bridge that crosses the Vardar River and the bustling Macedonia Square complete with a humongous Alexander the Great statue. Everywhere you look there’s yet more statues honouring the important figures that shaped this region's history - it’s no wonder Skopje is often called the City of Statues.

Another long and influential period can be attributed to the Ottoman Empire who ruled here for around five centuries. Plenty remains from that time including the Old Bazaar and an authentic Hammam that has since been transformed into an art gallery.

As we continue our tour of Skopje we’ll talk about the devastating 1963 earthquake that destroyed over three quarters of the city, walk under the recently completed Triumph Arch of Macedonia and get to grips with North Macedonian politics outside the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia. Closeby I discovered some intriguing monuments and memorials erected during communist times in the days of the Yugoslavia.

Before we’re done there’s plenty more to learn at the Mother Teresa Memorial House and some fascinating communist era buildings to see just a few minutes from the city centre. If you’re anywhere near Macedonia Square I’d recommend spending some time on the elaborate and artistically decorated bridges that pay tribute to historical figures from the world of art and music. The exquisite Bridge of Civilisations being my favourite!

My trip to North Macedonia begins in the capital Skopje but I’ll be renting a car and plotting my very own North Macedonian road trip in future episodes. If you’re interested in seeing what things are like beyond the country’s largest city then please subscribe and follow along! It’s going to be an eye opening week!

📖 CHAPTERS:
📖 00:00 Introducing Skopje
📖 01:38 History of North Macedonia
📖 02:20 Macedon & Ancient Macedonia
📖 02:37 Legacy of the Ottoman Empire
📖 03:51 Skopje Stone Bridge
📖 04:30 Days of Yugoslavia
📖 04:53 Skopje Has a Pirate Ship?
📖 05:38 1963 Earthquake
📖 06:32 Mother Teresa was Born in Skopje!
📖 06:55 Brutalist Architecture
📖 07:49 Don’t Mention Politics!
📖 08:40 Rebuilding Skopje
📖 08:52 Macedonia Square in Skopje
📖 09:39 Three Must-See Bridges
📖 11:06 Did You Know This About North Macedonia?

*More Info*
❤️ Don’t Forget to LIKE & SHARE if you enjoyed the video, they really help!
🎙️ Feel free to ask any questions! All FEEDBACK and COMMENTS welcome!!

*Soundtrack*
🎵 Açai Bowl by Timothy Infinite
🎵 Vague Valley by Ryan James Carr
🎵 Slo-Mo by Aiyo
🎵

[ljupcona]

I've heard of Alexandar the great but never knew he was from this amazing country. Such deep history and a must visit

[WITYTRAVELS]

What a hotel view! We miss Skopje, it's such a great city. Day or night, you teach us all about the world!

[carolcantravel]

Thank you for sharing this, Skopje is on my list to visit and it's nice to see videos of this city

[bubakostadinova]

Beautiful Macedonia ❤
Thx for sharing and promoting our Beautiful Country

[markopenshaw]

Hi there great video. I'm hoping to do the Skopje marathon and noticed you were here during that time - can I ask what the temperature was? Looks warm! 🙄

[Watfordfc]

I think it’s fair to say this is one unique city, I personally love it and it’s a must see, the ship on the river you can actually stay in it as it’s a hotel, serengala I think it’s called or something like that, great video Matt I just love it

[gorantodorovski]

So much history looks beautiful..enjoy Macedonia mate

[MS]

Hi Matt cool video! I just visited Skopje and Ohrid too with parts of Albania. I stayed in that ship hotel Senigallia, what an experience😀

[AbdulAhadYTC]

unbelievable the city center looks crowded

[mariamm]

Hi Matt, you are doing amazing, your videos are always very interested to watch and listen to information you give ..As much as i watch your videos the Europe become larger in my eyes ..hope you know what i meant, haven't travel much out of my county other than Italy, Uk and Scandinavian..😊oh Mother Theresa was born there 🙏...thank you Matt for sharing your wonderful videos, Much Love and take care & stay safe ❤🤗

[AnastasiaAna-vb]

Today's *Macedonians* have more in common genetic material with the ancient *Macedonians* than most Greeks in northern Greece, although today's *Macedonians* have been Slavicized in the last 16 centuries and today speak the southernmost dialect of the Slavic languages.

[digimixx]

Interesting video..well detailed....energetic !

[malcolmnicoll]

Thank you, Matt. Skopje looks amazing. Let's hope it doesn't become californicated.

[elionrekoy]

Historicaly Macedonia is a cake that everyone wants.

[MartinBrez]

I hope you made a video of Ohrid. I recently visited Ohrid a few weeks ago. Really beautiful area 🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰

[Watfordfc]

Mate I’ll start to get back to normal and view properly, funny enough I’ve read alot about this city so look forward to viewing the city of statues cheers Matt hope your all good

[Hongaars]

Hi Matt

Skopje hey. What a change of scenery.
Firstly, how are you? If I may, you look well in this video (well you do in all your videos but I had never mentioned this before). And definitely NO risk of rain here.

Even though I was born in what I refer to as the ‘“former Yugoslavia”, I grew up far away from it and have definitely never been to Skopje although as expats we encountered friends from all of the republics that once made up the whole Yugoslavia. (If you recall the series “Miranda”, her mother likes to use the phrase “what I like to call…”).

I was aware that Skopje built countless monuments and memorials and looking at your video, there are so many different styles. In my opinion a wee bit OTT.
One thing that appears to be lacking seems to be the absence of green spaces (much like it is also lacking in Belgrade).

Yes, in your next video you shall likely be mentioning the politics behind Greece blocking the use of the name “Macedonia” resulting in what was clearly a “fudge” - “Kingdom of north Macedonia”. But at least this opens the doors for N Macedonia to eventually join the EU and NATO. (And I guess is still sounds better than the previous name - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - FYROM)

As always, thank you for this video.

From a hot and sticky Dubrovnik

Zoltán

[suiiiii]

Never north only Macedonia!!! Aleksandar and Filip are the pride of the macedonian history! Hopefully you will visit other cities in Macedonia as well!
Btw: amazing video

[MrTrenchcoatguy]

I'm from Skopje and I think you need new glasses. :D

[georgestojkovski]

Skopje Macedonian City looks fantastic and wonderful views of the city Skopje I love the city Skopje