Editing Skopje (section)

===Architecture===
[[File:Skupi (Colonia Flavia Scupinorum) - by Pudelek 1.JPG|thumb|Ruins of Roman [[Scupi]]]]
Although Skopje has been destroyed many times throughout its history, it still has many historical landmarks which reflect the successive occupations of the city. Skopje has one of the biggest Ottoman urban complexes in Europe, with many Ottoman monuments still serving their original purpose. It was also a ground for [[Modernist architecture|modernist]] experiments in the 20th century, following the 1963 earthquake. At the beginning of the 21st century, it is again the subject of massive building campaigns, thanks to the [[Skopje 2014]] project. Skopje is thus an environment where old, new, progressist, reactionary, eastern and western perspectives coexist.<ref name="colophon"/>

[[File:Skopje Aqueduct 9.jpg|thumb|left|Skopje Aqueduct]]
Skopje has some remains of Prehistorical architecture which can be seen on the [[Tumba Madžari]] Neolithic site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tumbamadzari.org.mk/en/open-air-museum/open-air-museum.php |title=Neolithic Settlement Tumba Madzhari in Skopje |publisher=Tumba Madžari |access-date=22 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717075413/http://www.tumbamadzari.org.mk/en/open-air-museum/open-air-museum.php |archive-date=17 July 2013}}</ref> On the other side of the city lies the remains of the ancient [[Scupi]], with ruins of a theatre, thermae and a basilica.<ref name="archeology"/> The [[Skopje Aqueduct]], between Scupi and the city centre, is rather mysterious because its date of construction is unknown. It seems to have been built by the Byzantines or the Turks, but it was already out of use in the 16th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Le voyage du Levant |publisher=Slatkine |year=1897 |isbn=9782051001632 |pages=33–34 |author1=Philippe Canaye |author2=sieur de Fresne}}</ref> It consists of 50 arches, worked in cloisonné masonry.<ref name="strategic">{{cite web |url=http://www.aqueductskopje.net/attachments/Strategic_vision_Report_summary_ENG.pdf |title=Strategic Plan for the Preservation and Rehabilitation of the Skopje Aqueduct and Environment |author=Thérese Steenberghen |publisher=Skopje Aqueduct |year=2011 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127211943/http://www.aqueductskopje.net/attachments/Strategic_vision_Report_summary_ENG.pdf |archive-date=27 January 2012 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

[[File:Manastir sveti Pantelejmon vo selo Nerezi.jpg|thumb|Church of Saint Panteleimon]]
[[Skopje Fortress]] was rebuilt several times before it was destroyed by the 1963 earthquake. Since then, it has been restored to its medieval appearance. It is the only medieval monument in Skopje, but several churches around the city illustrate the [[Serbo-Byzantine architecture|Vardar architectural school]] which flourished around 1300. Amongst these churches are the ones around [[Matka Canyon]] (St Nicholas, St Andrew and Matka churches). The [[Church of Saint Panteleimon, Gorno Nerezi|church of Saint Panteleimon]] in [[Gorno Nerezi]] dates from the 12th century. Its expressive frescoes anticipate the [[Italian primitives]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=History of art: the Western tradition |author1=Horst Woldemar Janson |author2=Anthony F. Janson |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Prentice Hall Professional |year=2004 |page=263 |isbn=9780131828957}}</ref>
[[File:Isak Bey Turbe Aladja Mosque Skopje.JPG|thumb|left|Aladža Mosque and its türbe]]
Examples of [[Ottoman architecture]] are in the [[Old Bazaar, Skopje|Old Bazaar]]. Mosques in Skopje are usually simple in design, with a square base and a single [[dome]] and [[minaret]]. Their entrance is usually emphasised by a portico, as on [[Mustafa Pasha Mosque]], dating from the 15th century. Some mosques show some originality in their appearance: [[Sultan Murad Mosque|Sultan Murad]] and Yahya Pasha mosques have lost their dome and have a pyramidal roof, whilst Isa Bey Mosque has a rectangular base, two domes and two side wings. The Aladža Mosque was originally covered with blue faience, but it disappeared in the 1689 Great Fire. However, some tiles are still visible on the adjoining [[türbe]]. Other Ottoman public monuments include the 16th-century clock tower, a [[bedesten]], three [[caravanserai]]s, two [[hammam]]s and the [[Stone Bridge (Skopje)|Stone Bridge]], first mentioned in 1469.<ref name="ottoman"/><ref name="oldskopje">{{cite web |url=http://www.oldskopje.net/Monuments |title=Monuments |publisher=OldSkopje |access-date=8 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410230911/http://www.oldskopje.net/Monuments/ |archive-date=10 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The oldest churches in the city centre, the [[Church of the Ascension of Jesus, Skopje|Ascension]] and St Dimitri churches, were built in the 18th century, after the 1689 Great Fire. They were both renovated in the 19th century. The Church of the Ascension is particularly small as it is half-buried in order to not overlook neighbouring mosques.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldskopje.net/mk/news/29.html |title=Црква Св. Спас |year=2007 |publisher=Old Skopje |access-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226054010/http://www.oldskopje.net/mk/news/29.html |archive-date=26 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 19th century, several new churches were built, including the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which is a large three-nave building designed by [[Andrey Damyanov]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.culture.in.mk/story.asp?id=1465 |title=Renaissance Architect Andreja Damjanov- New Ray of Light on a Valuable Work |publisher=Utrinski Vesnik |year=2001 |access-date=2 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226081004/http://www.culture.in.mk/story.asp?id=1465 |archive-date=26 December 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Pošta vo Skopje, Macedonia.jpg|thumb|Main post office and the Communication Centre]]
After 1912, when Skopje was annexed by Serbia, the city was drastically westernised. Wealthy Serbs built mansions and town houses such as the 1926 [[Ristiḱ Palace]]. The architecture of that time is very similar to the one of Central Europe, but some buildings are more creative, such as the [[Moorish Revival architecture|Neo-Moorish]] Arab House and the [[Byzantine Revival architecture|Neo-Byzantine]] train station, both built in 1938.<ref name="colophon"/> [[Modernist architecture|Modernism]] appeared as early as 1933 with the former Ethnographic Museum (today the City Gallery), designed by [[Milan Zloković]].<ref name="colophon"/> However, modernist architecture only fully developed in Skopje after the 1963 earthquake. The reconstruction of the city centre was partially planned by Japanese [[Kenzo Tange]] who designed the new train station.<ref name="colophon"/> Macedonian architects also took part in the reconstruction: [[Georgi Konstantinovski]] designed the City Archives building in 1968 and the Hall of residence Goce Delčev in 1975, whilst [[Janko Konstantinov]] designed the Telecommunication Centre and the main post office (1974–1989). [[Slavko Brezovski]] designed the [[Church of St. Clement of Ohrid]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.macedonia.co.uk/client/index1.aspx?page=388 |title=Macedonian Cities – Skopje Churches |website=macedonia.co.uk |access-date=8 February 2011 |archive-date=14 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114100652/http://www.macedonia.co.uk/client/index1.aspx?page=388 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These two buildings are noted for their originality although they are directly inspired by [[brutalist architecture|brutalism]].<ref name="colophon"/>

The reconstruction turned Skopje into a proper modernist city, with large blocks of flats, austere concrete buildings and scattered green spaces. The city centre was considered as a grey and unattractive place when local authorities unveiled the [[Skopje 2014]] project in 2010.<ref>[http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/20045/45/ PM Gruevski: Yes, Skopje 2014 was my Idea] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111042343/http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/20045/45 |date=11 January 2012}}, Macedonian International News Agency, Saturday, 7 January 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/gallery/skopje-2014 Skopje 2014: The new face of Macedonia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213192754/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/gallery/skopje-2014 |date=13 December 2012}}, BalkanInsight</ref> It made plans to erect a large number of statues, fountains, bridges, and museums at a cost of about €500&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/weddings-planned-inside-macedonian-triumphal-arch Macedonian Arch May Be Wedding Scene] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725060156/http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/weddings-planned-inside-macedonian-triumphal-arch |date=25 July 2012}}, BalkanInsight</ref>

The project has generated controversy: critics have described the new landmark buildings as signs of reactionary [[Historicism (art)|historicist]] aesthetics.<ref name="Skopje2014">{{cite web |url=http://old.balkaninsight.com/en/main/analysis/29030/?tpl=299&ST1=Text&ST_T1=Article&ST_AS1=1&ST_max=1 |title=Critics Lash 'Dated' Aesthetics of Skopje 2014 |date=24 June 2010 |publisher=balkaninsight.com |author=Balkan Insight |access-date=29 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707205713/http://old.balkaninsight.com/en/main/analysis/29030/?tpl=299&ST1=Text&ST_T1=Article&ST_AS1=1&ST_max=1 |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> Also, the government has been criticised for its cost and the original lack of representation of national minorities in the coverage of its set of statues and memorials.<ref name="Skopje2014"/> However, representations of minorities have since been included amongst the monuments. The scheme is accused of turning Skopje to a [[theme park]],<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/04/world/europe/macedonia-skopje-2014/index.html Is Macedonia's capital being turned into a theme park?]  CNN International, 10 October 2011</ref> which is viewed as nationalistic [[kitsch]],<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/14/alexander-great-macedonia-warrior-horse Macedonia statue: Alexander the Great or a warrior on a horse?] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803123552/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/aug/14/alexander-great-macedonia-warrior-horse |date=3 August 2020}} ''The Guardian'', 14 August 2011</ref> and has made Skopje an example to see how national identities are constructed and how this construction is mirrored in the urban space.{{sfn|Herold|Langer|Lechler|2010|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=sgfc1TosZGYC&dq=antiquization&pg=PA43 43]}}
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Meister von Nerezi 001.jpg|Fresco in the [[Church of Saint Panteleimon, Gorno Nerezi|Church of Saint Panteleimon]]
File:Mustafa Paşa Mosque, Skopje - interior.jpg|Interior of [[Mustafa Pasha Mosque]]
File:Daut-pasin amam, Skopje.jpg|Daut Pasha Hammam
File:Saat Kula-Sultan Muratova Dzamija -Skopje (27).JPG|The historic clock tower
File:Skopje X8.JPG|The Arab House
File:Makedonski Naroden Teatar 2013 18.JPG|Macedonian National Theater
File:Skopje 2014 - Art Bridge.JPG|[[Art Bridge]]
</gallery>