Kavadarci

We visited Kavadarci when we stayed at the Monastery of St George in Negotino. The town hall is located in the center of Kavadarci. We usually visit the town hall of a city because they often have interesting information about the town in the form of free booklets, maps, etc. However, we were in Kavadarci on a Sunday and the town hall was closed. Directions: N41.43309 E22.01222

Marko’s Tower

Marko’s Tower is a defense tower from the 18th century. The walls are 1 meter thick! The tower is completely surrounded by private houses and you cannot come close to it.

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The Tower of Marko in Kavadarci is not to be confused with the famous Towers of Marko near Prilep or Marko’s Tower near Valandovo! Address: Partizanska; Directions: N41.43719 E22.01236

Kosturnica Monument

This monument dedicated to the Macedonian liberation struggle is called Kosturnica.
It is an ossuary or mausoleum, a place where the bones of the soldiers fallen during the World War 2 from the Tikves region are buried. Kosturnica is located on a high hill in the city park and gives a good view over the town of Kavadarci. It was built in 1976.

Kosturnica symbolizes an old Macedonian-style house which is the eternal dwelling place of the perished fighters. The monument is made out of concrete. Marble plates with the names of the fallen soldiers are placed on the walls of the hall. Many of the plates are broken nowadays. The monument is not in very good state, and appears to be used as a toilet / love nest…so watch your steps! Directions: N41.43268 E22.02276

Church of St Dimitri

The Church dedicated to St Dimitri (Dimitrija) was erected in 1834. Address: 29th Noemvri. Directions: N41.43448 E22.00847. The priest of the church gave us the phone number of another priest, who arranged that the Monastery of St Nikolas near Mokliste a few km outside of Kavadarci was opened for us (see below).

Pizza Restaurant Exclusive

Pizza restaurant Exclusive is a little bit out of the center of Kavadarci but worth the detour. We had a lunch in this restaurant. I had a very nice Macedonian-style pizza with meat, called Pastrmajlija. Address: Bulevar Makedonija 34; Directions: N41.44111 E22.0093

St Nikolas Monastery (Mokliste)

About 7 km south from the center of Kavardarci and 5 km south of the village of Vatasa, you can find the Monastery of St Nicholas. Directions: N41.38509 E22.03713 It is also called the Monastery of Mokliste after the nearby village Mokliste. When we inquired at the Church of St Dimitrija in Kavadarci if the Monastery of Mokliste was open, the priest gave us the phone number of another priest (who was not in the most helpful mood, but after some persuasion he arranged somebody else to open the monastery for us). So we picked up our car and drove to the village Vatasa where we met the caretaker of the Mokliste Monastery .

The Church of St Nikolas on the monastery grounds was built in the year 1595 by Nichola and his sons from the village Timjanik near Negotino. At a later date a narthex was added.

The lodging houses and bakery date from the 19th century and have been renovated in more recent times.

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There are also a fountain and a bakery on the monastery grounds. When we brought the caretaker of the monastery back to the village Vatasa he also showed us the of St Bogorodica. We are very grateful to this friendly man, who did not want a tip for his time and help!

Church of St Bogorodica (Vatasa)

The church of Bogorodica can be found in the village Vatasa (or Vatasha), south of Kavadarci. It dates back to 1821.

Address: Straso Pindzur, Vatasa; Directions: N41.41817 E22.01836