Promoting the Rich Tradition of Kratovo with My Wife

Outside, in front of the yard of the 'Shancheva' house, the cat peacefully sleeps, waiting for each new bite of the delicious food being prepared in the kitchen. In this rustic yard, which the owner Stevche Donevski arranges with the aim of preserving the traditional way of life in Kratovo, peace and tranquility prevail.

Foto: Leina Anneli

Stevche is a person who has put in the effort to attract tourists to the city. On Google, one can find numerous photos shared by foreign tourists on the profile of the ethno house, all of whom are impressed by the hospitality they received.

Foto: Anna

Mr. Donevski and his wife Valentina decided to purchase an old rustic house built 300 years ago, previously owned by renowned fabric traders from Thessaloniki and Dubrovnik.

After restoring the house, they chose to preserve all the traditional elements so that this house could tell the story of the past.

The Donevski family is known everywhere. They come from the village of Shlegovo, and their family tradition of preparing specialties and recipes spans over 250 years. Stevche and his wife Valentina have been part of the 'Slow Food' family for quite some time, frequently organizing workshops for younger generations on how to prepare K'cana salt, homemade bread, pogacha, and the special rye bread.

Foto: jan tatara

The "Shancheva" house has been rented out to interested guests for a certain period, who aim to study the tradition of Kratovo. The narrow alleys leading to the house, its beautiful location, wooden floors and ceilings, wooden stairs, and details such as traditional clothing and utensils, baking trays, and antiques are all elements that speak to the way of life in the past. This is why many foreign tourists come to stay here.

Она што ја прави толку привлечна куќата се вештите раце на госпоѓата Валентина, без кои раце ова куќа не би го имала комплетниот дух.

While Stevche is responsible for welcoming guests, Valentina is in charge of preparing wonderful traditional dishes such as homemade cheese, fresh vegetable salad that can be directly harvested from their garden depending on the season, roasted peppers with grape vinegar, traditional bean stew, twisted banitsa, dried vegetables, and of course, the homemade k’cana salt.

Foto: Luis Barreto D

Wonderful comments about the owners are coming from all over the world. Many people say that they are wonderful individuals with whom you can raise a glass of wine and have a great conversation. They are also fluent in English, which is another advantage when it comes to attracting foreign tourists.

Foto: Louis Baretto d

Kratovo is a great city to explore. You can visit many places and hear numerous stories about this location. Many refer to it as an "open-air museum."

Not far from the city is the archaeological site of "Kuklica." Here, you can find stone figures that, according to scientists, were created over 10 million years ago, long before humans existed on the planet.

Foto: Louis Baretto d

The vertical erosion of volcanic rocks has created "dolls" over ten meters high, which still dominate the serene surroundings today. Over time, nature has sculpted rare masterpieces from them. Macedonians believe in the legend of the "Wedding" which tells the story of a wedding that took place here, where the groom, who was deeply in love with one girl, decided to marry another. The heartbroken girl cursed the newlyweds, causing them to turn to stone. Whether you believe in this legend or not, it's important to note that this "wedding" site is protected by the Ministry of Environment of Macedonia.

Our recommendation is to visit Kratovo at least once in your life. Small towns have a story of their own. Before leaving the town, don't forget to buy local handicrafts or spices. This is one of the oldest cities in the Balkans, a place known as the city of bridges and towers.