Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Skopje is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia, with a metro population of about 621,000.
The city has a diverse ethnic composition, with Macedonians forming about two-thirds of the population, alongside significant Albanian and other minority communities. Historically, Skopje has been continuously inhabited since ancient times and has experienced various cultural influences, including Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Yugoslav periods.
Skopje 2014 was a large-scale urban development and architectural project launched by the government of North Macedonia, aiming to give the city center a more monumental, neoclassical, and baroque appearance. The project involved the construction of 136 structures, including government buildings, museums, bridges, statues, and monuments. The initiative dramatically transformed the visual identity of central Skopje, adding numerous new facades, public spaces, and large sculptures. Skopje 2014 was highly controversial.
