Brief facts about the city of Bitola
The name Bitola has been mentioned since X century.The remains of Heraclea Linkestis (2km from the center of Bitola) are proof of the existence of an ancient town founded by Macedonian King Philip II in the 4th century B.C.Historically, Bitola was situated on the well known Roman road Via Ignatia, which enabled it to be a relevant economic, administrative, educational, medical, diplomatic and cultural center.
Bitola with over 90.000 citizens is the second largest city in Republic of Macedonia and spreads over area 1.716km2. It is located 630m above sea level 175km from the Capital Skopje, 180km from Thessaloniki and only 15km from the Greek border.Bitola, a town with a rich tradition and turbulent historic past, today is a regional industrial, economic, educational (University), scientific and cultural center of the South-West part of the Country.
The climate in this region is continental with mild influence of Mediterranean, a lot of sunny days, rich vegetation, and pleasant temperatures in the spring and autumn months. The Average annual temperature is 10OC.
Bitola has a picturesque surroundings and beautiful landscapes, but above all the symbol is National Park “Pelister”, area with exceptional natural beauties, two glacial lakes “Pelister’s Eyes” and five-leaf pine Molika, formations from the tertiary and the Balkan endemic. Bitola has a rich culture life. Besides The International Film Camera Festival “Manaki brothers” (one of the three festivals in the World dedicated to the directors of photography), several other international festivals are held in Bitola, such are “Interfest” - international festival of serious music, “Heraclea Evenings” - Summer theater and music festival, The International Graphic Triennial, International Children’s Colony “The Small Monmartre of Bitola.
Monuments of culture
The ancient town of Heraclea Linkestis was founded by Philip II Macedonian (4th Century B.C.). The Heraclea picturesque mosaics are perfectly preserved. They are among the most significant works of art from that period of time. The small (bishop) and the big three nave basilica, the big amphitheatre, acropolis, necropolis, the residency of the Episcope, the statue of Athena Parthenos, are just a part of the rich treasury of Heraclea.
The Jews Gate is one of the monuments that testify about the horrible deporting and destruction of 3000 Bitola’s Jews in the concentration camp Treblinka.
The father of modern Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk attended the Turkish military school in Bitola. His memorial room is located in the Institute, Museum and Gallery. (ex Turkish Military School).
The town abounds in significant cultural monuments inherited in course of the past centuries: the cathedral church “St. Dimitrija” (1830), one of the largest Orthodox churches in Macedonia with a beautiful iconostasis and gilded engraving.the Bezisten (16th-19th Centuries) a covered market place; the old Bitola Bazaar (19th Century); the Clock Tower (17th Century) the Mosque of Aydar Kadi (16th Century); the old urban architecture (19th and the beginning of the 20th Century). In the city there were nine Consulates of European countries (Austria, Hungary, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania).
Russian Cross - in honor and glory of the Russian emperor consul in Bitola H.E. Aleksandar Arkadievch Rostkovski.
