It’s nearly three million years old. The beauty of the lake is the reason Ohrid has become more and more popular among tourists.

The beautiful mountain range which blends with the crystal blue water of the lake, creates wonderful landscapes which can be admired in the old Ohrid. According to a legend, Ohrid used to shelter 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and this is the reason why it is considered the Jerusalem of the Balkans. Despite the fact that a lot of them were destroyed over time, Ohrid is the settlement with the highest number of religious edifices I have seen so far.

Don’t let yourself deceived by Ohrid’s simple and common appearance because the Old Town hides a lot of beautiful places and landscapes. In case you decide to visit this lovely Macedonian town, these are a few of the things you could do there:

1.Visit the lovely Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo, which is the jewel of Ohrid. Situated on a high cliff caressed by the water of the lake, this small and rustic church stands in the middle of a perfect scenery. Spending a few moments of peace and relaxation in the courtyard of this church will make you feel amazing.

2.Not far away from this church, you can take a walk in a small fisherman settlement, called Kaneo. This is the place where you can admire a variety of boats floating on water and also enjoy the image of the shore which blends with the high and imposing cliffs.

3.Enjoying the panorama over the entire town from the walls of Czar Samuel’s Fortress is an experience you cannot miss. It is said that this old fortress, situated at the top of the hill, was built in the 4^th century. The ruins of the fortress are only a small part of what this building used to be. The original territory of Czar Samuel’s Fortress is delimited by two old gates, the upper gate situated at the top of the hill and the lower gate situated near the port.

4.You should stop for a few moments in front of the Ancient Theatre and try to imagine how many events this place has witnessed over time. Built almost 2000 years ago, this outdoor amphitheater is still used for concerts, operas and ballet performances.

5.The port of Ohrid is another place which really deserves your attention. Beautiful landscapes, tiny cobblestone streets, rustic taverns and chic cafes situated on the shores of the lake, are just a few of the aspects which contribute to the lovely image of the port.

 6.Built in a traditional Turkish architectural style, the House of Robevci is another important tourist attraction in Ohrid. Nowadays, this building shelters a museum where you will have the chance to admire a collection of historical and art objects.

7.As I have already told you, Ohrid is blessed with a lot of religious edifices and many of them have an impressive architecture. You can admire beautiful frescoes, icons and art objects in the Church of St. Sophia or you can feel an authentic spiritual energy in the Church of St. Clement and Panteleimon. The Church of the Virgin Mary Bolnichka, the Church of the Mother of God Peribleptos and the Church of the Virgin Mary Chelnica are simply perfect in case you want to enjoy a rustic architecture.

8.In case you love shopping, you can explore the local bazaar where you will find all kind of products at really good prices. Unfortunately, you will have to invest some time and energy in finding quality goods because there are many things of poor quality in this bazaar.

9.You should explore every street in the Old Town of Ohrid because the rustic architecture and the picturesque scenery are simply lovely. Tiny cobblestone streets, small ancient churches and wonderful sights will delight you at every step.

10.You should try the local cuisine because it is delicious. The local taverns serve a lot of seafood, fish and meat specialties which are a real culinary treat. For example, the trout cream soup and the Macedonian salad were my favorite dishes.

Even though Ohrid is not a very popular destination among tourists, I really believe that this town has a lot to offer and that it deserves to be visited.

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Built on a platform above water, this open air museum is connected with the shore through a wooden bridge which can be lifted.

The Bay of the Bones Museum shelters 24 small thatched roof houses made of wattle and clay and supported by wooden pillars. Some houses are decorated with beds of animal skin, tools and other objects in order to imitate the prehistoric way of life. Exploring every house in the complex and admiring the primitive architectural style is a really interesting and relaxing experience.

The story of the museum is equally captivating. It is said that a few archeologists discovered a prehistoric site in Lake Ohrid, dating to the end of the Bronze Age and the beginning of the Iron Age and covering an area of over 8.500 m2. It is believed that this old settlement belonged to one of the oldest tribes in the Balkan region who lived in that area. In 10 years of excavation archeologists discovered over 6000 pieces of wooden remains, shards of pottery, utensils, piles, stone and flint objects, bronze artefacts and many fragments of animal bones.

The settlement was so interesting and mysterious that someone came up with the idea of reconstructing it, above the remains of the old one, which still lies under water. After this reconstruction, the settlement was turned into a museum and it was named the Bay of the Bones, after the large number of animal bones which were discovered during the excavations.

In case you are curios to take a look at the original objects which were found in the old site, you can do this because there is an interesting exhibition of some of the relics, near the settlement. The exhibition includes a fascinating picture of the old settlement which was taken underwater.

You can also admire the museum from a beautiful wooden bridge which is situated in the same area. This bridge is the place where you will also have the chance to admire the silhouette of a small sunken boat. On top of the cliff, very close to the museum you can find a Roman fort which was also reconstructed.

An entrance fee must be paid in order to visit this museum, but it is worth every penny. In case I haven’t convinced you yet, you should take a look at the following pictures which I’m sure will do a better job.

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As a fan of photography, whenever I see a picture of a beautiful place, I tend to fall in love with it. Last time when a picture had such an effect on me was a few weeks before I visited Ohrid. I was planning to visit Macedonia, but I hadn’t decided which part of the country I wanted to visit. So, I started searching for pictures on the internet until I found the perfect one. It was a picture of a gorgeous small church which immediately convinced me to plan my trip to the place where this jewel was situated.

It goes without saying that after I arrived in Ohrid, I was very eager to see the lovely church which had conquered my heart. Built in the shape of a cruciform, with a rectangular base and situated on a cliff, the Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo is even more beautiful in reality. The image of this small and rustic church is simply splendid. It seems to overlook the beautiful Lake Ohrid and its surroundings. The church looks absolutely gorgeous, especially if you take a walk to the top of the hill and admire it from there. This is the place which offers a spectacular panorama over the entire area and also the one which convinced me to take a trip to Ohrid. The picture which made me visit this city was actually taken from this place.

The lovely Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo is that type of place which deserves to be closely admired and for good reason. Besides the perfect scenery and its interesting architecture, the church is also blessed with a peaceful vibe. I spent hours admiring the lovely Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo as if I had wanted to memorize all of its architectural details.

The story of the church is still shrouded in mystery. It is believed that this Orthodox church was built in the late 13^th century in honor of John the Theologian, a famous apostle of that time. In addition, the interior of the church is equally interesting and it can be visited in case you are willing to pay an entrance fee. Even though the interior looks pretty simple, it is embellished with a few old frescoes of important saints.

After spending a few hours here, I can honestly say that the Church of St. John the Theologian at Kaneo is a real jewel. Maybe the following pictures will be the reason you will decide to visit Ohrid.

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