Basic informations about Prilep Prilep is located in the northern Pelagonia plain, in southern Macedonia. It is

the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia and has a population of around 80.000 citizens. The overwhelming majority of the city population is Macedonian.Prilep is a center for high-quality tobacco and cigarettes. The city also produces a large quantity of pure white marble.. Prilep is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of King Marko.

THE CULTURE OF PRILEPThe area of Prilep has very big and rich culture. It is branched on

every field, based on the long tradition that people from this town keep. The tradition is very deep, which makes the cultural heritage bigger and better for the next generations. The best characteristics for Prilep is the TOBACCO, which is also known as the “yellow gold”.

ARCHITECTURE

There are several ancient sites in Prilep including one at Markovi Kuli, St. Nicola’s church from XIII century, St. Uspenie church in Bogorodica, St. Preobrazenie church and the Tomb of the Unconquered, a memorial in honor of the victims of fascism located in Prilep's central park.

Archaeological sites: Markovi Kuli, monumental area Bedem Stibera, ancient site, village Chepigovo Archaeological site Gradishte, village Debreshte

RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE St. Nikola Church, village Manastir St. Dimitrija Church, Varosh St. Nikola Church, Varosh St. Atanas Church, Varosh St. Bogorodica Prechista Church, Varosh St. Petar Church, Varosh Monastery Treskavec, with monastery church Uspenie Bogorodichno Monastery Zrze, with monastery church St. Spas (St. Preobrazenie) Monastery Slepche, with monastery church St. Nikola St. Bogorodica Church, village Kostinci St. Nikola Church, village Zrze

Charshi Dzamia (the Bazaar Mosque), Prilep Skrshena Dzamia (the Broken Mosque), Prilep Turkish bath, Prilep Hammam bath (Hammam Tememele), Prilep Remains of wall Kursumli An, Prilep

Profane architecture: Clock Tower, Prilep Urban complexes: Monumental entirety Old Bazaar, Prilep Monumental entirety Varosh

Revival: St. Blagoveshtenie Church, Prilep

Monuments from the National Liberation War: Hillock of the Undefeated, Prilep Memorial museum “Kuzman Josifoski – Pitu”, Prilep

Some words for the buildings:

St. Nikola Church in Varosh is one of the most significant objects in Macedonia, whose facades obviously show two construction phases. The initial, small single-nave church built of stone, with used antique spolias, was built around 1200, while the second architectural phase, i.e. The present appearance of the church with rich plastic-ceramic decoration of the facade dates from 1298 and reflects the characteristic trends in the late - byzantine architecture.

The monastery complex Treskavec consists of St. Uspenie Bogorodichno Church, the old dining room, quarters with the bell tower above the entrance and other additional buildings. The monastery complex was built over an older cult place, the church was built in XIII century and restored during the reign of King Milutin.

One of the numerous cultural monuments from the period of the Revival in the first half of XIX century is thechurch St. Blagoveshtenie (Holy Annunciation), known as the Old Church in Prilep.

The Clock Tower was built in the center of the Old Bazaar in 1858 at the site of an older wooden clock tower, which burned in the fire that consumed the entire Old Bazaar in 1854.

The Old Bazaar in Prilep is an urban complex that had its biggest growh in the second half of the XVIII and early XIX century, when Prilep was a developed trade and craftsmanship center.

The Bazaar mosque is located in the center of Prilep, in an urban entirety together with the Clock Tower, in the complex of the old bazaar.

The Monastery of Zrze which has 12th and 14th century frescoes are notable sites of the culture of Prilep.

Monastery of Treskavec

The OLD CHURCH

THE CLOCK TOWER

The park “Mogila”

MARKO’S TOWERS

Religious and other traditional events:

One of the most religious and other traditional events are:

1. Forgiveness day(Procka)2. St.Nicola(the saint keeper of the Town)3. Melfest4.Zvezdicki(festival for music for kids)5. Beer Fest (The biggest festival in Prielp and wider)

Atmosphere at Beer Fest (day - night)

Some masks on the Forgiveness day mask parade

The relatively warm climate in Prilep provides excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits. Macedonian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of its dairy products, wines, and local alcoholic beverages, such as rakija.

Among meats, beef, mutton and chicken are the most common ones. Pork is rarely used (not just by the Muslim minority, but by the Christian majority as well).

Tavče-gravče with Shopska salad and rakija are considered the national dish and drink of Macedonia, respectively.

But when we connect Prilep and food as one, there is no other word than SHIRDEN that equals perfectly to it. Shirden is the traditional bbg meal in Prilep. The most famous restourant where you can taste this PERFECT food with salad and a sip of rakija is MAKEDONSKA KUKJA.

1) Prilep is well known for it’s rich folklor and big tradition that the citizens of Prilep kept for all these years. Mostly, in the town dominates the Christian tradition, but on the surrounding villages there are other traditions, such as the Islamic. Handmade material represents one big part of the folklor tradition, which includes traditional clothes, embroidery, rugs, carpets, jewelery, home stuffs, fighting equipment e.t.c.

2) Most important handmades are the embroideries, which are not placed only on the traditional clothes(Nosii), but also they can be found on pillows, napkins, curtains e.t.c.

3) Nosii are important handmade clothes that women wore in the past. There are many types of nosii, almost every region is reognized by it’s own type of traditional cloth. Also, there were traditional clothes for everyday wear and special occasions. One different type were the t.c. for the brides that besides the importance of the cloth they must looked trough the wedding rind to see the sunshine for brighter future in marrige.

4) Jewelry is also on of the most recognised handmades of Prilep. It was made in the craftsman stores that were specialist s in that area. Mostly jewelry made the goldsmiths with help of the potters.

5) Decorations were made for home use and one the best decorations were made of marble. The marble of PRILEP is one of the most valuable marbles in the world. Even the White House has used this marble.