In 2025, I visited Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia. Located in Southeastern Europe, North Macedonia was once a member of the former Yugoslavia. During my stay, I traveled to two cities: the capital, Skopje, and Ohrid.
Since my flight was from Istanbul, there were quite a few Turkish people on board. At immigration, an elderly couple kept cutting in line, which was honestly pretty annoying. As several lines merged into one, they tried to push ahead of everyone. The men standing in front of me expressed some frustration toward the couple, but ultimately, they just let it slide.
Since I arrived at night, I headed out early the next morning and wondered where to have breakfast. Because it was so early, few places were open, so I decided to wander around the neighborhood first. That’s how I came across the Triumphal Arch in the heart of downtown Skopje and the nearby Woman Warrior Park.
Unlike in Ohrid—which I’ll mention later—I didn't see any Asian tourists in Skopje (at least during my visit). In fact, I barely saw anyone who even looked like a Western tourist. To be fair, Ohrid is generally much more popular as a travel destination in North Macedonia than the capital. However, I have a habit of visiting capital cities when I travel, so I decided to explore the area.
In this post, I’ll be covering the Triumphal Arch first, followed by Woman Warrior Park. Although the park was actually closer to my accommodation and I visited it first, I’ve decided to start this write-up with the arch.
Macedonia Gate (Triumphal Arch)
Porta Macedonia (Triumphal Arch)
When I visited, I didn't see any other tourists besides myself (though, of course, that might have been because it was early morning). It did resemble the Arc de Triomphe in France. However, looking at it up close, the arch is covered with intricate reliefs depicting the long history and culture of North Macedonia. I imagine it would be quite interesting for someone well-versed in the region's history.
It was completed in 2012, making it a relatively modern structure. For reference, its official name is Porta Macedonia, but it’s often listed as the Triumphal Arch on Google Maps, so keep that in mind.
Statue of Hristo Tatarchev
To the left of the Triumphal Arch stood a statue of Hristo Tatarchev (1869–1952). To be honest, I had no idea who he was at first, but after looking him up, I learned that he was a doctor and politician who founded the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO).
Woman-Warrior Park
Near the Triumphal Arch lies Woman Warrior Park. Its design is such that it could easily be mistaken for a plaza.
This park was reportedly established after the 1963 Skopje earthquake. As the name suggests, it was originally created to honor the women who fought against fascism during World War II—specifically those who participated in the National Liberation War (NOB) between 1941 and 1945. However, as you can see in the photos below, the statues are mostly of men.
This change occurred as part of the Skopje 2014 project, which began in 2010. The project aimed to give Skopje a more "classical" aesthetic by constructing a massive number of buildings and monuments, including the Triumphal Arch mentioned earlier. During this process, statues of men were added regardless of the "Woman Warrior" theme (the Skopje 2014 project remains controversial to this day). Because of this, locals even joke that it has become "Man Park"!
Statue of Prometheus
Me
The statue in the foreground is of Prometheus, and the monument behind it—featuring four figures on horseback—is the Monument to the Fallen Heroes for Macedonia.
If you look closely at Prometheus's attire, you’ll notice he is wearing only briefs. There is a funny anecdote behind this: when the statue was originally erected, Prometheus was completely nude. However, due to protests from conservative civic groups, they ended up "dressing" him in briefs.
Not just in North Macedonia, but across the former Yugoslavia—particularly in Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo—as well as Albania, a patriarchal and conservative culture remains much more prevalent than in Western Europe (I certainly felt this while speaking with Albanians).
This statue is said to honor the key figures who led the first session of the Anti-fascist Assembly for the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) in 1944, which served as the cornerstone for the formation of the modern Macedonian state.
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