Towers and Stone Bridges

About this place

Kratovo is a small town on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo, set in the crater of an extinct volcano at about 600 m. It is known for its stone towers, old bridges and houses packed above a narrow ravine, a rare place for anyone who likes to wander away from the tourist trail. The town grew rich on mining, with gold, silver, lead, iron and copper taken from the surrounding hills, and Saxon miners and merchants from Dubrovnik settled here. It is first mentioned under its present name in 1330. In 1685 the Catholic bishop of Skopje, Petar Bogdani, counted 300 houses and eight strong towers, and in Ottoman times it was famous for its copper goods. You wander cobbled lanes between old houses with timber balconies, some weathered and some restored. Stone towers rise above the rooftops, including the clock tower in the centre, and arched stone bridges cross the ravine. Earthy colours and tiled roofs give the town an old look that photographs well. It is 63 km in a straight line from Skopje and makes a full day with the Stone Dolls of Kuklica, 11 km away in a straight line. The ground is steep, so wear comfortable shoes, and allow time to walk along the ravine and see the bridges from below. Respect residents' privacy when photographing houses, since this is a small, lived-in town.