Ancient and Roman times
This crossroads of the Balkans was crossed by the Roman Via Egnatia and dotted with cities like Stobi and Heraclea, whose mosaics still survive.
Byzantine and Ottoman eras
Ohrid became a great centre of Slavic literacy and Orthodox Christianity, said to have had 365 churches. Five centuries of Ottoman rule then shaped the bazaars and mosques of Skopje and Bitola.
Independence
Part of Yugoslavia for much of the 20th century, the country became independent in 1991 and took the name North Macedonia in 2019. It is one of Europe least-known and most affordable destinations.