Travel Guide Veles

Situated on a meander of the Vardar and at the foot of the Vršnik hill (450 m above sea level), the capital of Povadaria is well worth a visit for its rich little museum, old monastery, traditional houses and pleasant surroundings. Admittedly, the hometown of the poet Kočo Racin has the reputation of being the most polluted place in the country. Despite the closure of the Topilnica smelter in 2003, the soil and air are still laden with lead and zinc. And during the 2016 American campaign, the town's idle but ultra-connected youth played a crucial role, creating over a hundred pro-Trump websites. The city's origins can be traced back to the Peonians. In ancient times, they built their first capital here, Bylazora. Around the 6th century, the Slavs renamed the place in honor of their major deity: Veles, god of Earth, Water, Cattle and Hell. Under the Ottomans, the town became the stronghold of the powerful Köprülü family of Albanian origin, and took this name in the 15th century. Finally, during the socialist era, it was named Titov Veles, in homage to Marshal Tito.