Macedonia Takes Steps to Protect Two Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Sites
BalkanTravellers.com
The archaeological and astronomic site of Kokino, located in north-eastern Macedonia, has been declared as a cultural heritage site of exceptional importance, the Vecher newspaper reported today.
“In order to ensure additional international value of the Kokino site, which was listed among the oldest pre-historical observatories in the world by NASA a few years ago, the government has issued a decision aimed at providing this monumental entity an internationally recognised status, or trying to enlist it in the world heritage of the prestigious organisation,” Culture Minister Elizabeta Kancheska – Milevska told the publication.
In this way, Kancheska – Milevska said, data on this site identified as a Bronze Age rite area and an observatory, so far the only in the Balkans and a rarity in Europe, will be protected permanently. At the same time, destruction of the site will be prevented.
In addition to the Kokino site, the Macedonian government took steps towards the protection of the Ohrid region, by preparing a final version of the Plan for management of natural and cultural heritage, which has been submitted to the World Heritage Committee in Paris.
“The goal of such a plan is to prevent the violation or non-implementation of UNESCO provisions on protection of cultural heritage. In parallel, we have worked on a law on management of the world natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid Region, which has already been submitted to the government for adoption,” the Culture Minister says.
Read more about Macedonia from BalkanTravellers.com
Use BalkanTravellers.com's tips to organize your trip to Macedonia
Epicure
Balkans
Three Bizarre Watermelon Recipes
The watermelon – this bright, contrasting symbol of summer, according to many residents of the Balkans, is a kind of trademark of their peninsular heat. Full Story
Curiosity Chest
Balkans
The Red and White Strings that Welcome Spring in Bulgaria and Romania
I remember walking along Canal Street in New York’s Chinatown on March 2 a few years ago, when I saw a man sporting a small ornament made of red and white thread pinned to his coat lapel. He must be Bulgarian, I thought to myself with a sudden rush of homesickness, but now realize that he may have been Romanian as well.
Full Story
Useful Reads
Bulgaria
Street without a Name: Childhood and Other Misadventures in Bulgaria (2008) | By Kapka Kassabova
Danube blues
Text by Nicholas Lezard for The Guardian*
Full Story
Music
Bulgaria
The Choir that Turned England a Bit Bulgarian
One of the few constant sources of pride for Bulgarians is traditional folk music, and especially singing. But not the Oriental-beats-modified kind that often booms in nightclubs, giving their clientele the urge to jump atop tables and chairs and sway their hips around; rather the kind that, when heard, mesmerises you and gives you goose bumps, the kind that is haunting with its out-of-this universe quality, mostly figuratively but sometimes literally as well.
Full Story
-
Photogalleries
-
A Perfect Shot
In Homo Urbanus Europeanus, exhibited May 9-24 in front of the National Theatre in Sofia, Jean-Marc Caracci presents his photographs of people in the urban environment of European capitals.
RED&WHITE SOFIA. On the 1st of March Bulgarians say goodbye to the winter. They buy each other red&white threads to carry around until they see a stork and spring can begin. Photography by Lode Desmet
BULGARIA D'OR: The Bulgarian countryside, patinated with the noble golden dust of the autumn. Photographs by Lode Desmet
360 degrees Bulgaria, an exhibition by photographer Alexandar Ivanov, is on display at the Sea Garden in Varna until August 28. It will be shown at Plovdiv’s Central Square from Sept 5.
The exhibition Photographs of a Trip Through Bulgaria by Hungarian photographer András Balla can be seen in Sofia's Hungarian Cultural Institute, at Aksakov 16 Street, until August 22
Instant Spring in Sofia | Photographs by Lode Desmet
Off-the-season Beauty of Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast | Photographs by Adelina Iliev
Bulgaria's Northern Black Sea Coast
Photographs by Albena Shkodrova
excellent smugs