Originally Created For: Unorthodox Travel
Author: Mariam Amini
Original Article Link: Welcome to the City of Statues – Unorthodox Travel
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of North Macedonia? For me, it’s got to be the statues of Skopje.
This landlocked Balkan country is incredibly underrated. But of course, that comes with its own perks, such as a sleepy capital that doesn’t feel like a capital at all.
The vibe in Skopje is very chill, compared to the bustle and rush of most other cities. It doesn’t take long to see the appeal behind such a laidback lifestyle.
And so, I wholeheartedly embraced it during my two weeks here this spring. This mainly meant slow days; aimless walks that spontaneously lead on to new attractions.
It was during our initial wander that I first noticed Skopje’s main form of attraction: statues.
I’d previously been told about the so-called ‘city of statues’. Yet, nothing quite prepares you for the sheer number and magnitude of lifeless structures dotting the streets.
From government officials to monarchs to other famous Macedonian figures such as Mother Teresa, these quirky monuments are scattered all over, giving the town a very unique feel.
A new face hides behind every corner. Even the main bridges are adorned by metal figures, positioned every couple of metres apart.
Built as part of a plan to boost tourism and foster national pride, there are well over 100 statues in the centre alone.
They come in all shapes and sizes, from the golden horses motionlessly prancing over white pillars, to the magnificently large soldier on horseback in the heart of the main square.
Known as the ‘Great Warrior’ or ‘Warrior on a horse’, you quickly realise that this carved landmark is actually a replica of Alexander the Great.
However, a long-standing dispute between North Macedonia and Greece over where his true heritage lies has ultimately left the famed hero with a hybrid identity between the two states.
These still effigies capture the spirit of the past wonderfully. They tell the story of the city, but the tale takes on a twist once you cross into the Old Bazaar.
The Ottoman roots behind these cobbled streets paint a new picture, and an ancient one at that. Among the mosques, restaurants, old sites and shops, the statue population decreases significantly.
Nevertheless, the general charm of the city remains. This much older area offers the perfect dichotomy to the modern and statued main square.
Together, they represent the diverse history of the country as a nation handed down between empires and kingdoms.
Now home to a range of religions, languages and more, it is finally independent, and forever frozen in time by a charming population of bronze and stone.