Skopje

Skopje is North Macedonia's capital and largest city, straddling the Vardar River at the crossroads of the Balkans. Its Old Bazaar (Stari Čaršija) is one of the largest and best-preserved Ottoman-era markets in the region, overlooked by the hilltop Skopje Fortress (Kale) and linked to the newer city center by the centuries-old Stone Bridge. The city is also the birthplace of Mother Teresa, commemorated by a memorial house downtown, and sits a short drive from Matka Canyon, one of the country's most popular natural attractions.