Not far from the center of Skopje is the medieval clock tower of Saat Kula - one of the brightest city sights. This is definitely the highest clock tower of Macedonia, and perhaps the entire Balkan Peninsula. The tower is modest and unattractive, but it is no less beloved by the townspeople. And for tourists it is not only a tourist attraction, but also an excellent landmark, visible everywhere in the city.
The hour tower of Saat Kula was erected in 1566. Its original design consisted exclusively of wood, and at the top was installed a wonderful Hungarian clockwork. Frankly speaking, building wooden towers in the troubled times of the Middle Ages is not the best idea: a century later, Saat Kula fell asleep from the fire.
The tower that we can now observe was restored only in 1904. This time the walls were laid out of red brick , propping them with a solid eight-sided foundation. The peak of the tower was crowned with a small dome, typical of Russian medieval architecture. The work of the clock was adjusted so that the sound of the battle spread throughout the city. Since then, the clock tower has become an integral element of the urban landscape, the brightest attribute of Skopje. In height, the clock tower of Saat Kula reaches 40 m.
True, in 1963 the Skopje symbol again suffered, but this time from an earthquake. The structure was almost completely destroyed, and the mechanism had to be repaired. The further event shocked everyone: huge hours were stolen. To whom and for what purposes they were needed - is still not known. But a Swiss watchmaker has ordered a new watch movement, which works with the utmost precision to this day.
To admit, the area in which the tower is located is not very interesting: it's not a tourist center, but a quiet sleeping quarter. But on the part of the atmosphere - an excellent place. Here you can walk for hours, enjoying the comfort of modest residential streets. But this is the only way to get into the uniqueness of the life of the Macedonian capital.
Saat Kula is located near the University of Cyril and Methodius on Vasil Antselarski Street. This area is located on the right bank of Vardara, a 20-minute walk from the central city square. By the way, next to the clock tower there is another high spire - part of the construction of the mosque of Sultan Murad.
If you walk a little further through the boulevard Krst Petkov Misirkov, you can find a wonderful cafe "Gallery 7". The institution will please you with original design, democratic prices and, most importantly, excellent traditional cuisine.