Ohrid once had 365 churches, earning it the title Jerusalem of the Balkans, with one church for each day of the year. Ohrid is considered a city with a rich history dating back to the times of ancient Greece, and since 1980 it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, together with the lake, more than half of which belongs to the neighbouring Albania. When I first visited the city a few years ago, I was so taken by its architecture, its many stone streets and Ottoman houses that it was not difficult to decide to visit again.
I boarded a bus in the capital of Macedonia and after a three-hour journey with stops in Gostivar and Tetovo, I arrived in Ohrid in the evening. In recent years, the city has also become an attractive destination for pilgrims from neighbouring countries. I met a group of pilgrims from Podgorica in one of Ohrid's most famous churches. We quickly started talking, and the parish priest who was accompanying them invited me to join them on a tour of the rest of the churches on their programme, so that I could also learn about the history and the origins of the history of the city's sacred buildings.
As I had planned to visit the St. Naum monastery as well, which also lies on Lake Ohrid 35 kilometres away, the pilgrims took me along, and after the visit I returned by hitchhiking. After a few minutes, I was already in a car and heading to Ohrid. The driver's girlfriend had plenty of nice things to say about Slovenians, since she was visiting her friend from Ljubljana for two weeks. She said that Slovenians are well organized and everyone has hobbies, while in Macedonia, people mostly only sit in pubs.
In the evening I went to one of the most famous restaurants, Belvedere. At the front door, people were already crowding in, and the sounds of live music captivated me. I felt as if I was somewhere in Serbia and my soul was singing. There are many good restaurants and bars with live music around the city, so you will never feel bored. Today, the town thrives on tourism, with daily boat trips for tourists, taking you around the lake for a few euros. A small red submarine stands out along the bay where the ships are docked and adds value to the tourist offer.
Macedonian cuisine is diverse and delicious, so you can't go without grilled specialities in Ohrid. The Ohrid trout is very popular and is much more expensive than meat. I enjoyed a glass of red wine, a prebranac and some of the city's delicacies in the local guesthouse.
Apart from its rich history and churches, Ohrid is famous for its glittering jewellery, the pearls of Ohrid. Due to the high competition between the sale of Ohrid pearls and fakes, it is difficult for those who are unfamiliar to distinguish between an original and a fake. Almost every shop will include a certificate of authenticity with your jewellery. The Talev and Filev families have a long tradition of making genuine Ohrid pearls, while other sellers are believed to sell fake ones. Before you decide to buy this popular piece of jewellery, make sure you know what you're buying, so you don't bring home a fake.
Ohrid is the fourth-largest city in Macedonia and, for me, one of the most beautiful cities in the Balkans. Its location, rich history, Turkish and Byzantine architecture and beautiful views make it a city that will captivate you and make you wish you could visit again soon.
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