BITOLA

If we go deeper into the records of Bitola, a confirmation will emerge why it was called the “most city like” city in Macedonia. Through it’s almost a thousand years long existence, the thundering roar of many epochs, civilizations and cultures passed by. During the centuries on this historical vicinity the interests of people belonging to different nations, religions and races intervened, and consequently their philosophies, habits and customs. That can be most truly seen in the cultural monuments-silent witnesses which persisted the turbulent times, reminding the generations to come to their number, cultural traditions of local people and heritage. They are mainly: churches, monasteries, ammams, Old Bazaar, autochthon architecture, written heritage, iconography, frescos, wood carving, but also in the songs, folk dances, embroidery, spoken tradition as well as many other material values.

The life of this town swirled in that magnificent fresco of people and events with all its beauties, human energy and the urge to survive, always looking ahead towards a better tomorrow. He-the Bitola citizen, our man, despite the deep tragic fate of Macedonian land, has always attempted to find strength, even in the worst moments, and give beauty to the living surrounding, hoping that one day it will be better. Probably due to that he preferred the spiritual and the cultural, which can be seen in the symbolism of the sun, frescos, icons, crosses, magic performances where strong flows of mythical and earthly beauties are evident. Although the burns of the soul hurt and the scars of time admonished, in the curse of the Balkan vortex there was place for praise of the song, love and joy of life.

Lengthy economic, social and cultural existence as an urban environment, supposed a certain philosophical, artistic and esthetical attitude towards the notion of how to live and survive through the storms of centuries. And when this is viewed from a current point of view of passing time, it is intelligible that the borders between the truths, desires and metaphors of this city can never be precisely marked. The best way to sense this is through numerous songs about Bitola. Bitola is one of the rare cities on close and more remote geographic area that has been so frequent theme of numerous lyrical longings, symbols and poetic pictures that touch the heart with the joyful syncope about long love nocturnes but the everyday life troubles as well. It was not only the ordinary people that sang about this city. Neither the renowned bohemia of Bitola. It was passionately and with a lot of pleasure, done by that time local and foreign gentlemen, the diplomatic choir and numerous guests at splendorous consular halls on Shirok Sokak. Even at the early hours of the day famous verses resounded: “People live the life there, they eat and drink…”

Of course, the creating genius of our man did not end with the song only. The diligent hands of constructors, painters, icon makers, wood-carvers, poets, musicians, craftsmen whose work, being made on a level of artistic perfection, gave the city a special mark and recognition. Our city’s name was the sole trademark of their works, which was respected in big European metropolis as well. Most of those segments of cultural living through the centuries left traces here evident in present days. That is the reason why Bitola should be seen from close, in order to feel this sunny region of numerous civilizations as a spiritual continuation between the ancient and the contemporary, the biblical and the present.