Dear visitors,

At the very beginning allow me to welcome you under the warm south sun, to a country the smells and tastes of which linger on in your memory, to a country that cherishes spirit and tradition.

Numberless military strategists have noted "The one, who controls Macedonia, shall control the Balkans". Nested in the bosom of the Balkan Peninsula ... The Republic of Macedonia is a country of legends and traditions. Artifacts emerge from the abundant past, from the earth's womb such as the Tetovo Maenad, Ohrid Izida, the first terracotta icons, the masks from Trebenishte
... On this very soil, with a stroke of fantasy, you may become part of the history of Heraclea, Stobi and Skupi; you may feel like the offspring of Ancient Macedonia, of Rome, of Byzantium; you may learn about the Christianity preached by Apostle Paul and the encounter with Lydia from Macedonia; in the Byzantine silence you reveal see the masterpieces of the sacral architecture ...

Simply, you shall discover the Republic of Macedonia, the country in which the lakes preserve the physical, whereas the churches and the monasteries preserve the spiritual culture of the people.

Once you are in Macedonia, you have the impression that you have entered the world of eternity ... each and every part of Macedonia inspires you to crave for more, to admire what you see and to wonder curiously if there is any other place which is more inspiring and more mystical ...

It is my utmost pleasure to invite you to visit every comer of our country, to visit the capital city Skopje, which represents a synthesis of traditional old buildings and modem edifices. Experience and indulge yourselves in the blend of oriental and European flavors, the exotic smells of the East and the subtle ones from the West. .. Explore the Old Bazaar which represents a remarkable museum under the open sky, the medieval Daut Pasha Hamam and Kurshumli An (Leaded Caravanserai), the stone ramparts of the Fortress in Skopje, the Memorial House devoted to the kindhearted Mother Theresa born in Skopje. Experience the humanism, energy and love that flow from this breathtaking place.

A visit to Macedonia is a story worth experiencing and narrating. There are numerous other reasons why Skopje and Macedonia have always been and why they shall remain a source of spiritual and cultural initiatives worldwide. All you need to do is open the casket that preserves the secrets of Macedonia ... the country because of which the world is a better and more beautiful place ...

                                                                              Elizabeta Kancheska-Milevska' MA
                                                                   Minster of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia