Photos

Right on the outskirts of Skopje between two small hills lies the Skopje aqueduct. It has 55 large arches and is built in opus mixtum style. It was most probably built somewhere after the 6th century when the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, in honor of his birthplace, decided to rebuild the ancient city of Scupi, devastated by the earthquake of 518, and built the new city on the spot of present day Skopje and named it Justiniana Prima after himself. The aqueduct brought fresh water from the springs of Skopska Crna Gora mountain to the new city.

The aqueduct was still in use during the Ottoman times when it supplied fresh water to the 70 hammams (public baths) and the 110 water fountains of Skopje. The Ottomans did some reparations on the aqueduct as some of the small arches (standing between the large ones, made to make the structure lighter) have pointed shape, typical for the eastern culture.

The aqueduct probably stopped to be in use after 1689 when the Austrian General Picolomini conquered and burned the city and Skopje lost its importance and splendor.