Day 255 - Friday - 5/25/2012

It was a day of Roman history for the family!  We started our day with a beautiful breakfast at Popovo Kula. Then off to Stobi.  Stobi was an ancient town of Paeonia that was later conqured by Macedon. At the time it was a capitol of the province of Macedonia Salutaris. It is located on the main road that leads from the Danube to the Aegean Sea. At the Stobi Archeological site there are many ancient buildings that have been uncovered, they include: Northern Basilica (beginning of the 5th century), Central Basilica (beginning of the 5th century), Magnea Thermae or Big Bath (late 6th century), many homes, town shops and other buildings. This is another location where many civilizations have been built on top of one another.

From the top of the amphitheater 

amphitheater

Excavation of more of the amphitheater

Baptismal

Peacock mosaic in baptismal

Baptismal from the basilica 

mosaics

walking through the ruins

The fam infront of the amphitheater

 After Stobi we went back to Popovo Kula for a relaxing afternoon. We had a tour of the area and grounds of Popovo Kula; it means priest's tower.  Originally on the hill near the existing building was a tower that was used to oversee the workers working in the fields. When the Ottoman Empire ended the tower and lands were given to the priest in the area.  Also during the tour it was mentioned that the Roman road use to run by the tower that Popovo Kula was designed and named after. We all stopped when our guide said this and looked at each other in amazement. After our tour we went out to look for it and we not only found it it was OBVIOUS what it was!  You could see the existing side still in the ground. The most amazing part is that it is still a road used today by people... what amazing history!  Dad really enjoyed getting to see it, but most of all walk on it!

Walking on the Roman road

Touching the Roman Road

The Roman Road

Lesson: Our history is always right with us, but we have to choose to seek it out and learn from it.