Place in Eastern, North Macedonia
Photo: Prince Roy, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Štip is the largest city in Eastern North Macedonia with about 44,000 people (2002). It has been perhaps the most important educational, cultural, and economic centres of this half of Macedonia for centuries. The first opera in Macedonia was played in Štip in 1924. In 2007, Štip became home to the country's fourth state university when Goce Delčev University opened.
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Завод и музеј
Founded in 1950 in the center of the city. It features exhibits on the archaeology, art, ethnology, and history of Štip. In particular, it houses over 1,000 archaeological pieces. The museum is found in the Arsovi House, a historic estate with traditional architecture. The building sits on open park space filled with various statues. The museum also maintains exhibits in the Bezisten and the Church of the Dormition.
Црква „Свети Архангел Михаил Главатов“
One of the most valuable medieval monuments of Štip, this church was built in 1332 by Serbian nobleman Hrelja. It lost its frescoes during the Ottoman era when it was converted into a mosque. The church is cross-shaped and capped by a single dome. In 2000, it received a new marble iconostasis.
Исар; Štip Fortress
Above the confluence of the Bregalnica and Otinja rivers, these fortress ruins overlook Štip and its surroundings from a strategic point. The original date of its construction in unknown, though today's ruins likey date from the Serbian Empire. Varying amounts of walls and foundations survive today. A cross was erected among the ruins and it is illuminated at night. Several churches were built on the slopes below the fortress. This includes the churches of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Nicholas, and Saint John the Bapist, among a couple of others.
Џамија Хусамедин Паша
Built on the foundation of a church called Saint Elijah (Црква Свети Пророк Илија), this Ottoman mosque was built sometime in the 16th century and named after a local Turkish pasha who donated the funds for its construction. His grave is located right beside the mosque. The mosque is on a hill on the south side of town. It is capped by one large dome and features a portico topped by three smaller domes. The building has been in poor condition since the 1950s.
Црква „Св. Никола“
Built on the ruins of a 1341-built church, Saint Nicholas is the cathedral church of the Bregalnica Diocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Consecrated in 1867, this dominant three-nave basilica is surrounded by porches on three sides. Its interior contains frescoes, vaulted arches, and woodwork. It contains a gallery of icons managed by the Museum of Štip.
Безистен
The historic covered Ottoman market is in the center of the city on the right bank of the Otinja. It was built of stone in the 16th or 17th century. It was destroyed by a fire during the Austro-Turkish war and rebuilt. Today, it is used as an art gallery.
Емир Ќучук Султанов мост
This historic stone bridge has spanned the Bregalnica River since 1672. During World War I, this bridge crossed a line between Serbian-controlled territory and Bulgarian-controlled territory.
Споменикот на депортираните Евреи
In a park on the Otinja River in the center of town is a memorial to the 551 Jews of Štip that were deported to their deaths in Treblinka by the occupying Bulgarian fascists on 11 March 1943. The monument was completed in 1985 next to the city museum.
Меморијален комплекс на паднатите борци на револуцијата
On the Isar hill above the city is this monument to the partisans who perished in the National Liberation War of Macedonia. It consists of several separate elaborately carved blocks standing alongside each other. The site was built from 1969 to 1973. Inscribed here are 814 names of fallen soldiers from Štip and its surroundings.
Саат-кула
This tower was built in 1650 as a guard tower. It was later adapted into a clock tower. Also known as Bey's Tower, it stands among mainly houses. The tower features a tall spire.
Црква „Свети Јован Крстител“
Built in the year 1350, this small church is decorated with fresco paintings bequeathed by an unknown landowner named Ivanko. Due to damages to the church’s roof, the main frescoes have suffered damage.
Црква „Свети Спас“
This small church was built in 1369 by a vojvoda named Dimitar. From the original frescoes, only certain parts representing old prophets, several saints of the synod church, and the beautiful compositions of Transfiguration and the Holy Indivisible Trinity remain. Its second phase of frescoes were painted in 1601.
Црква „Свети Архангел Михаил Главатов“
Not to be confused with the larger and better known Saint Michael church, this small church dates from 1389. Fragments of its original frescoes survive in the apse, while its icons date from the 19th century.
Еврејски гробишта
These graves are the only remnant of Štip's Jewish community. It is on the southwest side of the city. Over 80 graves are preserved here. They are mostly inscribed in Hebrew, with some in Cyrillic. The site fell into ruin over the years until restoration efforts in 2016.
Црква „Успение на Пресвета Богородица“
This large, three-aisle basilica, with beautiful icons and frescoes, is the main church of Novo Selo. It was built from 1836 to 1850 by Andrej Damjanov. The impressive wood-carved iconostasis and furnishings are the works of his brother, Nikola Damjanov. This church used to be the largest church in the country until the Saint Clement of Ohrid church was built in Skopje in the 1970s. It is also home to an icon gallery and art objects.
Музеј на дејците на ВМРО од Штип и Штипско
This museum was established in 2014 in a historic house with traditional architecture once belonging to the Andonov family. It exhibits documents, weapons, and other artifacts from the period of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, from 1893 to 1934, with a focus on Štip's role in the rebellious organization.
Новоселско училиште
Right next to the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is this 19th century school where revolutionary hero Goce Delčev taught for three years. Today, it is used by Štip's main university, Goce Delčev University. One side of the building features a mural memorializing Delčev.
Баргала
On the lower slopes of Plačkovica Mountain is the Byzantine town of Bargala. It was constructed between the 4th and 6th centuries AD. Following archaeological excavations, a basilica, trade quarters, a water tank, a bath, a fortification system with an impressive main gate, and other infrastructure are visible today at the site. Findings have included gold coins and Slavic pottery from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“
Dating from the 9th or 10th century, this church is among the oldest existing in North Macedonia preserved in its entirety. It is built of limestone in a cross-shape. It features one large dome and a smaller one. The interior contains frescoes, done in three phases with the latest occurring in the 14th century.
Црква „Св. Никола“
Built on the grounds of an older basilica, this church was built in 1625 and had its frescoes painted in 1627. The church is a small, single-aisled one built primarily of stone.
Кежовица Бања
The temperature of the thermal mineral waters in the spa-resort reaches 62°C and the radioactivity reaches 42.82 moch units. The water is characteristic for its very favorable chemical composition: it contains sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, and sodium oxide. The spa-water is believed to be curative of rheumatism, ankle and nervous system issues, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, and more.The unit for physiotherapy, included in the spa-resort, uses the most modern devices and treatment methods and possesses 110 beds. The main spa-resort possesses 40 beds while in the vicinity there is also Hotel Astibo with 130 beds.
Градскиот парк Суитлак
is a beautifully maintained hilly park with well maintained trails and benches.
езерото Мантово
This is an artificial lake with deep blue waters. Popular place for fishing and recreation in the summer.
- the second largest river in North Macedonia, joining Vardar river after Štip. Roads follow the entire flow of Bregalnica around Štip and this is a very scenic drive.
Inscribed on the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, this feast is observed every March 22 in Štip. There is music throughout the day, with people first gathering in the city and then hiking up to Isar Hill, stopping to greet forty people, to gather 40 pebbles and 40 flowers or twigs. At the top of the hill, 39 of these pebbles are thrown into the Bregalnica River below, with the remaining pebble placed under one's pillow before sleep.
Хотел Оаза
Гарни
Изгрев
Trgovski
Several shops under the main shopping mall in downtown, offer Macedonia-themed souvenirs. Štip is famous for producing high-quality textiles and clothing, especially for high-class Italian firms. You can get some of these items at bargain prices directly from the local manufacturers.
Градски пазар
The main farmers market. Regional growers and artisans bring theirs goods and attract a regional group of shopper, including women in traditional costumes.
By car
By car from the north (Skopje), the main regional road circumvents Štip, but any of the several clearly marked exits will take you downtown.
By train
Štip lies on the Skopje - Kocani line. Passenger services are running again as of January 2021, according to Macedonia Railways (MŽ) website.
By plane
By sport airplane: Štip is served by the largest sport airport in Eastern North Macedonia, accommodating single and twin-engine aircraft.
The best ways to get around are by foot or by taxi, though there is a municipal bus fleet which connects the center with the outlying of Babi, Senjak, Prebeg, Makedonka, Kezhovica, etc.
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