(PROGRAMME No.1)

 DURATION: 4-5 hours

Suggested departure: 09:30

OHRID THE CITY OF CENTURIES, INHERITOR OF THE BRIGHT LYCHNIDA

Known as cultural, artistic and education centre in the Slavic world, it holds its roots from the XIV Century BC, in the area known as Desaretia. In the Ancient time, known by the name of Lychnidos (the City of Light), it became an important trading centre. Always attractive for various conquerors, the city was fought over by Romans, Ostrogots, Crusaders, Byzantines, Ottomans and many other invaders.      
In the IX and X Century AD Ohrid became a cradle of the Slavic literacy, in the times when St. Clement of Ohrid established the First pan-Slavic University in Europe. By the end of the X and beginning of the XI Century, Ohrid was the centre of Samuel’s Empire.
As an important Christian place of pilgrimage, Ohrid became a place where new styles of fresco and icon painting were found (appearance of the first elements of The Renaissance in 1295), as well as specific sacral architecture (St. Clement, St. Sofia, St. John of Kaneo, etc.). In the medieval times it was the Seat of Ohrid Archbishopric. A city with 365 churches in XIX Century, and with more than 50 active churches today and certainly, a city built on the shores of one of the most phenomenal natural beauties – Lake Ohrid, is a central Macedonian tourist destination.
Ohrid and Lake Ohrid are on the list of world protected heritage sites of UNESCO since 1980. At every hundred meters you will encounter significant sights. The program itinerary is as follows: 

* Entrance in the Ohrid old town at the Upper Gate.

* Visiting the The Holy Mother of God Peribleptos Church  – dating from 1295, with its remarkable architecture and frescoes is one of the best known monuments of its kind not only in Macedonia, but also worldwide. 

* The Gallery of icons, belongs to the period between the 11th and the 19th centuries. 

* The Antique Theatre - the oldest antique theatre in Macedonia, built for- among other things – gladiatorial combats, has been reconstructed to house theatrical performances and concerts.

* Plaosnik– the spiritual and cultural source of Ohrid with preserved, restored and exposed architectural remains from the period of St,Clement, as well as before and after him, an Early Christianity  complex with the rebuilt church of St.Clement (St.Panteleimon) and parts of the original monastic complex- the first Slavonic University, the cradle of the literacy and culture the Slavonic clergy. 

* Samoil`s Fortress or The Ohrid Fortress -  is the crown of Ohrid and of Lychnidos.

* St.John Kaneo - a church dating from the 13th century and situated on a rock above the lake is a symbol of the town, poetry engraved on a rock and well known both in Macedonia and worldwide.

* St.Sophia – the cathedral church of the Ohrid Episcopate, with its outstanding architectural construction and invaluable frescoes dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
 

End of the program