Pelister National Park is around the corner when you are staying in Bitola! There are so many hiking options in arguably one of the most beautiful National Parks of Macedonia. See here for Hikes we did in Pelister National Park.
Mariovo region
In 2024 we did a daytrip to the villages Zovich, Gradesnica and Staravina, about 50 km east of Bitola. Zovich is famous for its Stone Bridge. In Gradesnica you can find several beautiful old churches and remains of a Roman settlement. Staravina has an interesting roofless church that was built as an ossuary for Bulgarian soldiers. See these websites for some additional ideas: ruraladventure.mk and off-road.mk.
Churches and Monasteries
Another daytrip that we did in 2024 was visiting several Monasteries and Churches near Bitola. We visited the villages Capari and Rotino. The Monastery of St Petka and the Church of St George in Capari were the highlights of this trip.
Smilevo
Smilevo is a village about 40 minutes by car from Bitola and 50 minutes from Krushevo. It is a historically significant village, because the decision for the Ilinden Uprising against the Ottoman occupiers was taken at the Congress of Smilevo in May 1903. The uprising took place a few months later on 2 August 1903.
In 2024 we stayed for two days in the Smilevo Monastery dedicated to St Peter and Paul, located in the hills high above the village itself.
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