In the heart of the Balkans lies this true treasure of nature. As one of the oldest civilizations, but one of the youngest nations of our time, the Republic of Macedonia offers its visitors a lot of culture and history to explore. In the capital Skopje visitors see the different historical influence ranging from Roman to Byzantine, from Ottoman to Yugoslav, but also today's modern character of a contemporary city. The national parks, over 50 lakes and 16 mountains higher than 2000m make this country an excellent destination for all nature lovers. Worth mentioning are also the Macedonian wine and brandy (rakija) and mastika. The local food is a unique combination of the Mediterranean and the Balkan.