Those who have felt it once know that this is not merely a city, but a hearth, a love, and the quiet whisper of the past that always returns to one’s thoughts.
Štip, a city in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, lies along the valleys of the Bregalnica and Otinja rivers. It is the largest city in Eastern Macedonia and the seventh largest in the country (with 42,000 inhabitants according to the 2021 Census). Štip is one of the oldest cities in Macedonia, covering an area of 13.5 km² at an altitude of 300 meters.
This area has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, passing through the hands of Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans.
The ancient city of Astibos, later called Istip, bears witness to the fact that life here has never ceased to flow. The fortress of Isar, proudly rising above the city, remains a silent witness to the turbulent centuries Štip has endured.
The name Astibo was first mentioned by the ancient chronicler Polyaenus in the 3rd century BC, who wrote that Paeonian kings were crowned in the river Astibo (present-day Bregalnica). Around 360 BC, Macedonian King Alexander I annexed this area to the ancient Macedonian kingdom. Štip is mentioned again in the 1st century AD, during the reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius (14–37 AD), as the Paeonian city of Astibo—considered one of the larger and more significant Paeonian cities in Eastern Macedonia. Scholars locate Astibo within the area of Štip’s old town, on the eastern slopes of the Isar hill and the neighborhoods of Star Konak, Tuzlija, and Gorno Maalo.
Štip also existed during the time of Tsar Samuel’s Empire (976–1014), before later falling under Byzantine control.
The first committee of the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (MRO—later known as VMRO) in Štip was formed at the initiative of Dame Gruev while he was working as a teacher in the city. Its first members included Ivancho Velkov, Pane Ivanov, Janaki Iliev, Kalajdzhiev, Mihail Arsov, and others, with Todor Lazarov Aџidimitrov as the first leader.
Later, when Goce Delchev became a teacher and principal of the school in Novo Selo, the organization in Štip had over 400 sworn members, among them Mite Miraschiev, Kotse Donchev, Mane Muftiski, Gjosho Gochev, Hristo Kotsev, Efrem Chuchkov, Mishe Razvigorov, and Vane Pop Efremov. From Štip, which served as a main base, Goce traveled to neighboring towns and villages, establishing a wide organizational network.
In 1896, during the transport of hidden bombs to Bitola, Andon Stojanov Toshev (“Doncho the Štip Native”) was arrested and sentenced to 101 years in prison, but was released under amnesty the following year. That same year, Ottoman authorities, suspecting Goce Delchev’s involvement, interrogated him but released him due to lack of evidence. However, he was ordered to leave Štip, though he continued his contacts with local activists.
A major setback occurred in 1897 when many members were arrested; some, like Vasil Leskata, died from torture in prison, while others, including Todor Lazarov and Hristo Kotsev, were sentenced to long terms. Betrayals by informants plagued the movement, yet activities revived once some activists were released. In 1904, in Novo Selo, Aleksandar (Sande) Malinov heroically fought against Ottoman troops, killing 16 soldiers and two officers before succumbing to wounds from which he later died.
The following years saw repeated arrests, assassinations, and armed clashes, including the 1902 battle in the village of Karbinci, where 22 insurgents were killed. By the time of the 1903 Ilinden Uprising, Štip was not fully prepared due to earlier crackdowns, though two significant battles took place in the region.
Post-uprising, internal disputes within the movement grew, and prominent leaders such as Mishe Razvigorov were assassinated. In 1911, the infamous “Donkey Bomb” incident occurred when a timed explosive hidden in a donkey’s load detonated during market day, leading to violent Ottoman reprisals against civilians.
In 1395, Štip fell permanently under Ottoman rule, becoming a kaza (district) within the Kyustendil sanjak. The city suffered heavily during the 1689 Austrian-Turkish War when, on the orders of General Piccolomini, it was looted and burned. Recovery was slow, but by the 19th century Štip regained its role as an economic and cultural center of Eastern Macedonia, known for leatherworking, goldsmithing, cooperage, and shoemaking.
In 1830, the first school in the Macedonian language was opened here, and between 1894 and 1896 Goce Delchev himself taught in Novo Selo.
During the Balkan Wars, Štip and its surroundings were occupied first by Bulgarian and Serbian forces, divided by the Bregalnica River. Bulgaria controlled the city and imposed its administration. The same occupation pattern repeated during World War I, leaving behind famine and deadly epidemics such as malaria, typhus, cholera, and the Spanish flu.
In World War II, Štip was bombed on April 6, 1941, by German aircraft, followed by occupation by the German 73rd Infantry Division and later Bulgarian forces. On March 11, 1943, 551 Jews from Štip were deported to the Treblinka concentration camp, where nearly all perished. On November 8, 1944, Yugoslav Partisan forces liberated the city. About 2,000 Štip citizens joined the resistance, with 814 losing their lives during the occupation.
In Štip, songs are sung with soul, and celebrations are held with heart. From the famous Štip Pastrmajlija Festival to the Feast of the Assumption and autumn cultural events, the city pulses with energy that preserves tradition. Štip hosted Macedonia’s first opera—Pagliacci—performed in 1924. It is also home to “Makfest,” the country’s largest pop music festival, held every November since 1989, and the “Štip Cultural Summer,” running every July.
Štip is the intellectual hub of Eastern Macedonia, home to the Goce Delchev University, attracting thousands of students from across the country. Youthful energy keeps the city dynamic and forward-looking.
Štip is also a sports city, with the 6,000-seat City Stadium hosting the football club Bregalnica (founded in 1921) and other clubs such as “Babi” and “Astibo.” The basketball club “Goce Delchev” is also prominent, alongside wrestling, boxing, handball, and table tennis clubs.
The Isar still keeps the sunrise, the Bregalnica softly whispers its stories, and the streets—yes, they remember every step you have ever taken.
Štip and Macedonia will always be a part of you.
