Due to its stunning beauty and A-lister visitors, Lake Como has been added over the years to the bucket lists of millions of tourists as one of their must-see holiday destinations.
Hundreds of thousands of people travel every year to the northern Italian lake to relax, enjoy the stunning food and mingle with celebrities.
Most famously, Hollywood actor George Clooney has a vacation home on this lake, but he is far from being the first high-profile tourist to head to the area – visited even by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
However, unbeknownst to many, across the Adriatic Sea there is a lake the beauty of which can easily rival that of Como.
Lake Ohrid, in North Macedonia, is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe.
READ MORE: Inside Europe’s strangest block of flats that looks just like Netflix show
While it is well known in the Balkans, this lake isn’t as internationally recognised as Lake Como as a holiday destination – which plays in its favour, as its lack of celebrity fame allows tourists to experience the area through the eyes of locals.
Home to a unique aquatic ecosystem, Lake Ohrid is more than twice as large as Como and is dotted with historic monuments.
Among them are the hilltop Monastery of Saint Naum, an Eastern Orthodox monastery originally built in the 10th century, and the stunning Kalishta Monastery.
Don’t miss…
The charming Greek destination that’s 19C in November[INSIGHT]
Europe’s hidden destination with insane food that’s way cheaper than Paris[REPORT]
The beautiful UK town home to one of Europe’s longest golden beaches[PICTURES]
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Lovers of ancient history can also visit a 5,000-seat Hellenistic amphitheatre and the city gates, dating back to the 4th century BC.
Equally, visiting Ohrid Old Town – added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list in 1997 – will make tourists feel like they are walking through history, as it is scattered with more than 100 buildings and sites declared as cultural heritage by the North Macedonian Ministry of Culture.
The beauty of Lake Ohrid is also in its natural landscape, which can be appreciated both when explored on a boat trip around the shoreline or by bike.
A visit to Ohrid also allows tourists to get acquainted with the North Macedonian wine which, much like the lake, should be as equally appreciated as its Italian counterpart.
Some of those lucky enough to have visited Lake Ohrid have shared their experiences there on the internet.
Taking to Tripadvisor, internet user martyng1234 wrote: “This is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen, it’s so big it’s unreal and has beaches like at the seaside, the water is crystal clear and warm, I hired a jet ski there and I loved it plus we took a normal boat trip.”
Similarly, tinaq_reviews wrote: “Beautiful setting for all of the gorgeous towns around it, the lake itself is beautiful – very clear and very deep. I pity the fact we visited it during the winter so there was no chance of a soak or a boat trip for us. The view of the unfrozen lake was very pretty, though.”
Source: Read Full Article