Ohrid, Macedonia

Ohrid is a small resort city on the hilly shores of Lake Ohrid in the southwest of the Republic of Macedonia. In the city’s compact old town, medieval churches, monasteries and open-air ruins stand alongside traditional houses with red-tiled roofs. The massive walls of the centuries-old Samoil’s Fortress, at the top of the hill, dominate the city skyline.

The medieval Church of St. John at Kaneo rests atop a cliff at the edge of the lake. The huge Church of St. Sophia is known for its centuries-old frescoes. Plaošnik hill is home to archaeological excavations and the St. Pantelejmon monastery with its floor mosaics. Ohrid’s ancient theater, once a Roman gladiatorial venue, now hosts summer concerts. Boating trips can be arranged from the lakefront in summer, and there are several beaches near the city. The vast, mountainous Galičica National Park lies south of the city.