Known for archaeological site, historical center, mosaic, roman empire, winery
Stobi, the biggest city from the antique period in this part of Macedonia, only 80km south from the the capital Skopje, is a place that links the Mediterranean to the continental Balkan hinterlands, shrouded by the mythical rivers of Axios and Erigon, along which countless Roman legions, Crusading cavalries, Ottoman conquerors and World War armies had marched. Today, this region represents the midpoint where the Old and the New World of wine meet.
You understand, it is impossible to see North Macedonia just in a couple of days. Come with us to explore North Macedonia in a 1-2 week road trip. We will pass Stobi, along with other North Macedonia' attractions, to discover the soul of the country, its way of life, culture and traditions, food and drinks. Browse our tours passing Stobi, or contact us directly for a custom tour in North Macedonia. By the way, we charge nothing for a custom itinerary. Contact us directly, let's plan all the details of your trip and get it done!
Stobi, North Macedonia Monterrasol private car tours to
Stobi, North Macedonia Monterrasol private car tours to
Stobi, North Macedonia Monterrasol private car tours to
Other places in North Macedonia that we are familiar with
Ohrid - Known for archaeological site, fortress, historical center, lake, museum, old bazaar, orthodox church, orthodox monastery; historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Last reviewed: 4 June 2023
Stobi description
Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia, later conquered by Macedon, and finally turned into the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia Salutaris. It is located on the main road that leads from the Danube to the Aegean Sea and is considered by many to be the most famous archaeological site in North Macedonia. Stobi was built where joining two rivers, Erigon and Axios, making it strategically important as a center for both trade and warfare.
The name Stobi is a Paeonian word meaning "post, pillar" and is akin to Old Prussian stabis, "rock". The name suggests that it was the site of a large local cultic pillar, though there is no evidence of this.
Stobi position in the fertile central Vardar valley allowed it quickly to develop a flourishing economy and to establish trade. Nearby Mount Klepa was a lucrative source of marble.
The city was first mentioned in writing by the historian Livy, in connection with a victory of Philip V of Macedon over the Dardani in 197 BC. In 168 BC, the Romans defeated Perseus and Macedonia was divided into four nominally independent republics. In 148 BC, the four areas of Macedonia were brought together in a unified Roman province. In the reign of Augustus the city grew in size and population. The city grew further in 69 BC once it became a municipium, at which time it began to produce coins printed with Municipium Stobensium.
The citizens of Stobi enjoyed Ius Italicum and were citizens of Rome. Most belonged to the Roman tribes Aemila and Tromentina. During Roman times Stobi was the capital of the Roman province Macedonia Salutaris. Emperor Theodosius I stayed in Stobi in 388. Late in the 5th century the city underwent a terrible turn of events. In 479, it was robbed by Theodoric, an Ostrogothic king. The citizens reconstructed the city, but in 518 it was struck by a powerful earthquake. Avaro-Slavic invasions in the 6th century destroyed the city's economy and infrastructure.
Yugoslavian archaeologists first discovered public and private buildings in the city and then the city's theater, built in the 3rd century, and religious artifacts from the central and western part of the city. The most significant finds were uncovered between 1970 and 1980 by Yugoslav and American archaeologists. In this period more buildings were discovered and new expeditions in the western necropolis, the Casa Romana and in the aqueduct network of Stobi revealed more mosaics.
The Grand Palace near the eastern wall of the city was built during the Roman period and contains beautiful frescoes. Stobi is one of a small number of cities from the late antique and early Christian period that kept a large number of mosaics. New archaeological research has shown that all Christian basilicas in the city discovered thus far were built over ancient buildings.
The Episcopal Basilica, dating from the 5th and 6th centuries, can see beautiful peacock from the baptistery's mosaic floor that is depicted on the reverse of the Macedonian 10 denars banknote, issued in 1996, and of the 10 denars coin, issued in 2008.
Stobi related tours
We at Monterrasol Travel welcome you to see Stobi during multi-day private car tour. Contact us if you would like to customize your tour to Stobi.
We have developed several private tours that visiting beautiful Stobi. But, if you have a special conditions or any from these tours fit you, please do not hesitate to contact us, we can organize a tour exactly as you would like. We charge nothing for develop a custom itinerary. And remember, we have no problems to take you from almost any place where you stay, hotel or private accommodation.
Balkans discovery 14 days tour will open for you 3 countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. Together with mentioned countries, you will also briefly meet Albania and will able to enjoy great time in beautiful coastal city Thessaloniki in Greece. With this tour we will pass over wonderful hilly Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal venetian towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas of Albania, and visit roman sites of Macedonia.
In all 3 countries we will visit most of must-see places. We will walk venetian towns in Montenegro; medieval towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; ancient roman settlement in Macedonia; fortified towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia; medieval fortresses of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro.
Balkans discovery 15 days tour will open for you 4 countries: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia. Together with mentioned countries, you will also briefly meet famous Dubrovnik in Croatia and enjoy great time in beautiful coastal city Thessaloniki in Greece. With this tour we will pass over wonderful hilly Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal venetian towns of Montenegro, fortresses and castles of Albania, and old roman sites of Macedonia.
In each country we going to discover we will visit most of must-see places. We will walk venetian coastal towns in Montenegro; medieval towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia; ancient roman settlements in Macedonia and Greece; fortified towns in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia; medieval fortresses and castles in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania; UNESCO sites in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro.
This 17 days Balkans discovery tour will open for you 4 countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia. Together with mentioned countries, you will briefly meet Albania and can spend great time in beautiful coastal city Thessaloniki in Greece. With this tour we will pass over Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia, wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal venetian towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas of Albania, and visit roman sites of Macedonia.
In all 4 countries we will visit most of must-see places. We will walk in medieval and venetian towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; ancient roman settlement in Macedonia; fortified towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia; medieval fortresses of Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Montenegro.
tour countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia
tour destinations: Aigai, Apollonia, Bar, Blagaj, Budva, Dajbabe, Dodoni, Dubovac, Ioannina, Kalampaka, Kotor, Krujë, Loreto, Meteora, Metsovo, Međugorje, Mostar, Ohrid, Pella, Perast, Podgorica, Radimlja, Saint Naum, Shkodër, Split, Stobi, The Bay of Bones, Trebinje, Trogir, Tvrdoš, Veria, Vjetrenica, Zadar, Šibenik
Come with us to travel the Balkans with our 23-day road trip from Zagreb to Igoumenitsa. The tour will pass through 6 Balkan countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece. We will pass over the Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia to see its coastal Venetian towns, the wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the coastal Venetian towns of Montenegro, the unexpected panoramas and old castles of Albania, discover a lake town and huge monastery in North Macedonia, and visit famous UNESCO places in Greece.
In each country of this tour, we will visit must-see important attractions, UNESCO sites, and through cultural heritage places will understand and feel each country's spirit.
Passing Croatia, we will pass beautiful coastal roads and see the coastal Venetian towns Zadar, Sibenik, Trogir, Split, and their main attractions.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, we will see ancient bridges, towns known from the Ottoman era, a famous Orthodox monastery with its own wine cellars, and all that by scenic roads of hilly landscapes.
Traveling Montenegro, we are going to see Venetian fortified towns, the remains of an old town destroyed by an earthquake, a Roman aqueduct still in great shape, a cave monastery, and a beautiful coastline.
In Albania, we will visit a few impressive fortresses, an impressive old bazaar still full of locally made goods, a huge archaeological site, and we will admire beautiful nature.
North Macedonia will show us a lively lake town that once had 365 churches, according to legend, and was referred to as the "Jerusalem of the Balkans". Here we will see an impressive lake monastery and a large archaeological site still showing beautiful frescoes.
In Greece, we will see several historical museums and archaeological sites in Aegae, Pella, and Dodoni. We will visit the amazing Meteora monasteries sitting on huge stone boulders, walk streets famous among locals in a mountain town known for its wine and cheese, see the Silversmith Museum located in the Ottoman fortress, and enjoy Greek hospitality and cuisine every day.
With this tour you will get an initial understanding of each country. If you wish, you can come with us to explore each country in-depth with the next tours.
We welcome you to come with us to explode 6 the Balkans countries with our extended 26 days Balkans cultural tour passing though Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece.
The tour will pass Adriatic coast and Dalmatian Riviera of Croatia, wonderful hilly nature of Bosnia-Herzegovina, coastal Venetians towns of Montenegro, unexpected panoramas and castles of Albania, meet truly Roman sites of North Macedonia and rich historical places in Greece.
We will visit medieval and venetian towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; will see famous Orthodox monasteries in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Greece; ancient Roman theaters in Macedonia and Greece; fortified towns in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro; archaeological places in Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Greece; medieval fortresses in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro; UNESCO sites in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Greece.
This tour will open for you the Balkans as important part of the civilization, full of dramatic history and great achievements.
June 26, 2025 Tunnel of Hope, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Tunnel of Hope educates on 1990s Balkan conflicts, particularly on the siege of Sarajevo, often overlooked in mainstream history. Built secretly using shovels by Bosnian forces, the Tunnel facilitated the transport of food, fuel, weapons, and humanitarian aid. Visitors leave moved by the stark reality of war and inspired by human tenacity, making it a must-visit for history buffs and empathetic travelers alike.
June 13, 2025 Klis, Croatia. Klis Fortress, known well in Roman time, played a crucial role during the Ottoman wars in Europe. Fortress rises dramatically above the village of Klis, just 13 kilometers from the city Split, Croatia. Its strategic hilltop location, sandwiched between the Kozjak and Mosor mountains, offers sweeping views of Split, the Adriatic Sea, and the rural hinterland.
June 2, 2025 Korçë (Korce), Albania. Korce (Korçë): Albania's vultural crossroads. Nestled in southeastern Albania near the Greek and North Macedonian borders, Korce is a high-altitude town surrounded by the Morava Mountains. Its crisp climate, cobblestone streets, and mix of Ottoman and European architecture make it a refreshing escape. Known as the ＂City of Serenades＂, it blends tradition with vibrant urban energy.
May 21, 2025 Vir, Croatia. Vir peninsula, linked to Croatia's mainland by a bridge, is a North Dalmatian coastal gem blending modern comforts with rustic charm. Once a quiet fishing area, it's now a family-friendly destination famed for sandy beaches, clear waters, and vibrant summer energy. Its accessibility and mix of relaxation and activities make it a hit with both locals and international visitors.
May 9, 2025 Filosofou, Greece. The Filosofou Monasteries, located near the town of Dimitsana in the Peloponnese region of Greece, is a significant historical and cultural site that attracts tourists for its unique blend of natural beauty, architectural heritage, and spiritual significance. The monasteries are nestled within the stunning Lousios Gorge, providing a picturesque backdrop of natural beauty.
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