What I love most about Macedonia is that I knew nothing about Macedonia before deciding to go there! How many of you could actually look at a map and point out where Macedonia is located? I couldn’t.

After doing some reading and research, I can’t wait to experience the beauty of Macedonia! I recommend you Google some photos – check out the rolling landscape, National Parks and beautiful Lake Ohrid (where I plan to spend a few days exploring). Not only does the natural beauty look incredible, the food scene sounds amazing! And the Slow Food Movement has made it’s way to Macedonia and I can’t wait to experience it!

Check out some other cool tidbits:

  • The name “Macedonia” is the oldest surviving name of a country on the continent of Europe.
  • The current population of Macedonia is just over 2 million people.
  • Philip’s son Alexander III the Great (356-323 BC) carries the Macedonian armies into Asia and conquers the Persian Empire. Macedonia becomes the world’s largest Empire stretching from Europe, to North Africa and India.
  • 1991: Federal Yugoslavia disintegrates as Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia declare independence.  On a referendum on September 8 the Macedonians proclaim independence.
  • There are more than 50 lakes and 34 mountains higher than 6,561 feet (2,000 meters) in the country.
  • There are nearly 1,000 churches and monasteries throughout Macedonia. The city of Ohrid once was home to 365 churches, one for each day of the year. The country was nicknamed The Jerusalem of the Balkans.
  • 1979: Lake Ohrid becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only one in the country. 
  • Mother Theresa was born in the current capital of Macedonia, Skopje which was then owned by Albania.
  • Ohrid Lake is estimated 945 feet deep and 4 million years old. It’s home to 200 endemic species that haven’t been found at any other place in the world!
  • Macedonia is the only country that got independence from Yugoslavia without shedding a single drop of blood. It officially gained independence in 1991.

You can read all about my experience in Macedonia in my blog post below!