Stip

(Macedonian: Штип)

Stip is the largest town in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. It has 43,625 inhabitants according to the 2002 census. Sustained by the Bregalnica river, Stip stands at an altitude of 300 m above sea level. Through the center the town is bisected by the small Otinja river, which tends to dry out in the summer months. The town of Stip is a seat of the Stip municipality.

The borders of the municipality expand on a territory of 583.24 km2. Through the municipality runs the river Bregalnica.

The municipality borders Probistip municipality and Sveti Nikole in the north, Radovis and Karbinci in the east, Lozovo and Gradsko in the west and Negotino and Konce municipality in the south.

• Number of inhabitants: 47.796 the town of Stip
• Area: 583,24 sq. km
• Geographic position: 41.44° N 22.1° E
• Climate: Mild Continental
• Average temperature: 12,8 C
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 2000
• Local area code: 032

Stip together with Radovis is the centre of the national Macedonian paste speciality, similar to Italian pizza but adjusted to Macedonian conditions, called “pastrmajlija’. It doesn’t certainly mean that you won’t find other specialities, Macedonian particularly. Stip is well known as a city of very nice food.

Stip (or Astibo/Astibos) has its heritage in being the ancient capital, of the Paeonian tribe who were situated in the western part of the fertile river Axius basin around the fifth and fourth centuries BC. The two tribes that lived along the river Astibo, an estuary to Axius, were the Derrones, called after their god of healing, Darron and the Laeaeans, who minted their own heavy coins as a sign of their sovereignty, following the example of the Greek city-states on Chalkidiki. Although these tribes have been heavily weakened by the Persian invasion of 480BC by King Xerxes I, they remained a formidable power and well-organized people, renowned for the production of their exceptionally heavy coins with emblems including domesticated specimens of the wild aurochs for which Paeonia was also famous. They were absorbed into the Macedonian empire by Alexander I before 360BC.

The area itself has first mention in the writings of the historian Polien form the 3rd century BC, who talks of a river named Astibo presumed to be the river Bregalnica today, and who claims that around the place where Stip is today, the Paeonian emperors were crowned. The first mention in written sources of a settlement in this area is from the time of the Roman emperor Tiberius 14-37 AD, when it is mentioned as an important settlement in the Roman province of Paeonia and the second stop on the Roman road from Stobi to Pautalia.

During the second half of the 3rd century BC the barbarian tribes, especially the Goths destroy much of the northern settlements in the easter part of the Roman Empire, among which Astibo as well. However, soon a new settlement has been founded on the same site called Stipeon which thrived though the late Roman and the Early Byzantine period.City of Shtip (2007-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-09-07. Between the 5th and 6th century AD the joint Slavic and Avar tribes attacks destroy the Byzantine settlement, and the Slavic tribe of Sagudats permanently settle in this area, and give the current name Stip to the settlement. During the 10th century, the Saints Cyril and Methodius after creating the first Slavic alphabet, first came to preach to the Slavic tribes in this area before going to Great Moravia, thus the Slavic population from this area were the first Christians among the Slavs.

Many rulers conquered the area of Stip during the early middle ages. The Bulgarian Empire incorporates the area during the rule of Tzar Samuil, however after the Byzantine victory at the Battle of Kleidion falls again under Byzantium until 1330 when the Serbian king Stefan Decanski conquers it and incorporates it in the Serbian kingdom. The Serbian rule lasted only until 1395 when Ottoman Turkey conquers the area, and renames the city to Ishtib making it the capital of the local county. There is little information for the development of Stip during Turkish occupation which would continue for the next 5 centuries, interrupted only during 1689-1690 when the city is liberated by the Austrians for two years. During the Balkan Wars Stip and the surrounding territory goes as to [Serbia] as war spoils and later is incorporated into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia together with Vardar Macedonia. During the Second World War the Axis-allied Bulgarian forces occupy the city until November 8th, 1944 when it is liberated by the Macedonian National Liberation Army. November 8th is celebrated as 'Liberation Day' today in Stip, and is municipal holiday.

• The ancient city of Asibo
• The Bishops city Bargala
• Mid age fortress Isar
• Churches and Monasteries
• Various Monuments of Culture
• The Memorial house of the poet Aco Sopov
• The Spa Kezovica
• Resting place at the Plackovica Mountain
• The popular songs festival Makfest
• Traditional manifestation Stip Cultural Summer
• Easter Folklore Meetings