Stone Bridge in Skopje unveiled with new decorative lighting
Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski and Esenler Mayor Mehmet Tevfik Goksu inaugurated the new lighting; Turkish ambassador and bank executive attended.
The Stone Bridge in the centre of Skopje was switched on with a new decorative and architectural lighting installation last night. Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski and the mayor of Esenler, Turkey, Mehmet Tevfik Goksu, formally opened the system at an evening ceremony attended by H.E. Alper Aktas, the Turkish ambassador, Fatih Shahbaz, an executive of Halkbank, and honorary consul Ajdovan Ademoski.
New lighting to emphasise historic arches
Mayor Gjorgjievski said the bridge remains one of the city's defining places and hailed the lighting as a way to emphasise its architectural lines and public value.
"There are places we always return to because in them we recognise a part of ourselves. For people of Skopje, such a place is the Stone Bridge. Centuries of history are carved into its stones. Generations met on it, friendships began and memories that last a lifetime were created. Above the Vardar, between the two banks, stands our shared pride. Tonight, that pride shines again. The new lighting highlights the beauty of its arches and gives it a special grandeur in the heart of the city. One more reason to stop, to look and to tell ourselves how beautiful Skopje is. It is precisely that beauty we must preserve. With dedication, with responsibility and with concrete deeds. Every restored landmark is a tribute to those who left it to us and an investment for those who come after us" — said Gjorgjievski.
The installation is described by city officials as both decorative and architectural: it is intended to accentuate the bridge's vaults and historic details, and to enhance the visual link between the two riverbanks after dark.
Attendees at the inauguration included representatives from the Turkish diplomatic and business community as well as local officials. City representatives said the refreshed lighting will reinforce the Stone Bridge's role as a meeting point for residents and visitors and as a symbol in Skopje's central urban landscape.
Photo: press material from the event
