DESTINATIONS FOODIE MACEDONIA ESCORTED TOURS
here, but that’s all part of the appeal. The capital has its beauty spots,
but they are nothing compared with southwestern town Ohrid, so named for Lake Ohrid, one of Europe’s largest and deepest lakes, which straddles the border with Albania. Its shores make an ideal spot for
a stroll, but the walled town is an absolute delight, home to a wealth of Hellenistic and Roman ruins including mosaics and an ancient amphitheatre now used for summer concerts. It is renowned as the birthplace of the Cyrillic script, was at the heart of the 10th century Bulgarian empire when Tsar Samuel built a fortress here, and is full of late medieval and renaissance churches known for their well- preserved frescoes; but even the most culture-phobic visitors will find its hilly town centre and expansive lakeside views enough of a draw.
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Intrepid Travel’s new 10-day Real Food Adventure to Macedonia and Montenegro starts at £1,260, including accommodation, some meals,
ground transport and a local guide. There is one remaining departure in September, and five from May to September 2017. intrepidtravel. com
Wizz Air operates five flights a week to Skopje (daily, apart from Mondays and Fridays) from Luton, with fares starting
at £18 one-way, including taxes and charges.
wizzair.com
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travelweekly.co.uk 25 August 2016
LEFT: Villa Dihovo
w GREEN GIANT Travelling by road offers a chance to admire some of Macedonia’s lush green countryside, a hit with hikers and mountain-bikers, and home to a host of local producers. We visited Villa Dihovo near Bitola, where the owners grow organic vegetables, make their own wine, and only use cheese and honey made nearby.
Where to stay
Luxury and Macedonia don’t exactly go hand-in-hand, so don’t expect glitzy big- brand hotels here – accommodation tends to be small and simple but perfectly satisfactory. Hotel Residence Inn, Skopje: this starting point for the tour is a central hotel with surprisingly spacious rooms, even if the fixtures and fittings feel more ‘90s than noughties, offering easy access to the compact city centre. Hotel Teatar, Bitola (pictured): after a recent refurb, this property combines a heritage feel in its shared spaces with a modern makeover for its bright, funky rooms, plus a breakfast spread that would put bigger hotels to shame. Homestay, Leunovo: Danny and Tina
Lazareska’s guesthouse is just one of the friendly, comfortable homestays on this itinerary, with sizeable rooms available on a twin-share basis (same-sex share option available for single travellers).
Once you get into wine country, the
Anyone seeking a safe, short-haul spot with the thrill of discovering somewhere new will find it in Macedonia
scenery is just as verdant: largest wine- producing region Tikves is responsible for two-thirds of the grapes grown in Macedonia thanks to its prime soil conditions. The country churns out more than 100 million litres of wine a year, making it the 25th largest producer in the world, and the quality is as good as any you’ll find in the rest of the Med. At Popova Kula winery, they still
harvest by hand, and are the biggest producers of indigenous grape variety stanusina in red, white and rose versions. More notable, perhaps, is the fact that you can do a wine-tasting with nibbles of cheese and cured meats for less than a tenner – all with the background of rolling vineyards and shadowy mountains in the distance – and bring home a bottle of the good stuff for around the price of a pint in your local pub. So value for money is a clear selling point, but that’s far from the main reason to go to Macedonia. It’s not as well known as other food and drink- dominated destinations, and it lacks the pizzazz of far-flung, exotic locales, but that low profile actually ends up being part of its charm. Anyone seeking a safe, short-haul spot with the thrill of discovering somewhere new and relatively unexplored will find it here – just make sure they bring a good appetite!
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