On the first floor of a 15th-century inn, the small Bazaar Museum is an essential stop for insight into Skopje’s importance as a former trade town of importance. Using old photographs and maps it shows the extent of the old bazaar, which once stretched all the way to the river Vardar, and the many objects on display show the wealth of products that were manufactured or passed through the bazaar. It’s surprising to see how similar the modern-day bazaar looks compared to the old photos. The buildings, workshops and people wandering around have not changed as much as you’d think, meaning that Skopje’s bazaar is a great deal more original than the touristy versions found in cities like Istanbul and Sarajevo. The museum is one of the few places showing photos of the city’s earthquake damage. The curator will be happy to give you a whirlwind English-language tour of the exhibition.
Admission free.
