Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи и Св. Никола“
Photo: Vitek, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This post-Byzantine church is unique in that it is a double church dedicated to two saints with two separate entrances and two apses. The frescoes in the north nave are the oldest, dating from the church's construction period in the 16th or 17th century. The tall wooden iconostasis is mostly from 1893, with the exception of the doors in the south nave which are from the church's original iconostasis.
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Карпински манастир
This 14th-century monastery is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. The present look of the monastery dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. Its church contains a valuable iconostasis with seven original icons dating from 1607. Some old frescoes are visible, though what can be seen is mostly from restoration in 1892. The bell tower of the monastery is among the more impressive in the country, built of stone blocks with decorative elements and capped by a dome and cross.
Шуплива карпа
A megalithic anthropomorphic rock. Roughly the size of a small building, the rock is said to have been brought here by King Marko who balanced it on the tip of his finger, per local legend. The rock is visited by women having difficulties conceiving children as it is believed that entering the hole in the rock will help such a woman become pregnant.
Кокино
An important megalithic observatory site discovered in 2001 by archaeologist Jovica Stankovski. It is believed to represent an astronomical observatory and ceremonial site. The locale is approximately 3,800 years old and sits in beautiful scenery. It includes special stone markers used to track the movement of sun and moon on the eastern horizon. The observatory used a method of stationary observation, marking positions of the sun at the winter and summer solstice, as well as the equinox. The importance of the site, detailed by physicist Gjore Cenev, was confirmed by the US space agency NASA and it appeared fourth on a list of oldest observatories compiled by NASA. Look up information about this site prior to visiting as there are few explanatory resources to be found for visitors.
Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“
A highly significant medieval church for both its architecture and frescoes. Saint George was first constructed in 1071 and reconstructed between 1313 and 1318 by the Serbian king at the time, Stefan Milutin. It features one main octagonal dome and four smaller domes. The lower part of the structure is made of large sandstone blocks while the upper part is made of rows of stone and brick. During the reconstruction period, the church's walls were painted with frescoes by Mihailo and Evtihij, among which are depictions of Stefan Milutin and his queen, Simonida. The fresco style is that of the Palaiologan Renaissance, which is characterised by the revival of ancient forms with iconographic innovations. Beside the church is a bell tower as well as some old graves.
Црква „Св. Ѓорѓи“
This small church was built of large stone blocks in a Byzantine revival style in 1867. In addition to its relatively elaborate exterior, it contains an iconostasis dating from 1874.
Костоперска Карпа
This massive basalt rock formation is of volcanic origin. There is also important human history here, with archaeological findings from the Chalcolithic period. There were supposedly 40 churches once located around the rock; just two remain fully today, with another two in minor ruins.