Štip — Mediated Wiki

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox settlement    |name = Štip  |official_name = |other_name = |native_name = {{native name|mk|Штип|italics=off}} |nickname = |settlement_type =  |total_type =  |motto =  |image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center |photo1a = Štip 23.JPG |photo2a = Štip 5.JPG |photo2b = Sv. Arhangel Mihail vo Štip 17.JPG |photo3a = Sv. Nikola - Štip 2.JPG |photo3b = Куќата на Арсови.jpg |photo4a = Isarot-Štip 11.JPG |photo4b = Безистен во Штип.jpg |size = 270 |spacing = 1 |color = #FFFFFF |border = 1 |foot_montage = }} |imagesize = |image_caption = View of Štip |image_flag = Flag of Štip Municipality.svg |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = Coat of arms of Štip Municipality.svg |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = North Macedonia |pushpin_label_position = left |pushpin_map_caption = Location within North Macedonia |pushpin_mapsize =  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{NMK}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = 15px Eastern |subdivision_type2 = Municipality |subdivision_name2 = 15px Štip  |seat_type = |seat = |parts_type = |parts_style =  |parts =  |p1 = |p2 =   |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Ivan Jordanov (VMRO-DPMNE) |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1st century AD  |unit_pref =  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent =  |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |elevation_max_m = |elevation_max_ft = |elevation_min_m = |elevation_min_ft =  |population_as_of = 2021 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 42,000 |population_density_km2 =  |population_density_sq_mi =  |timezone = CET |utc_offset = +1 |timezone_DST = CEST |utc_offset_DST = +2 |coor_type =  |coordinates = {{coord|41|44|15.01|N|22|11|36.81|E|region:MK|display=inline,title}}  |postal_code_type = Postal code |postal_code = 2000 |area_code = +389 32 |website = [http://www.Stip.gov.mk/ www.Stip.gov.mk/] | blank_name_sec1 = Vehicle registration | blank_info_sec1 = ST |blank1_name = Climate |blank1_info = Cfa |footnotes = }}

'''Štip''' ({{langx|mk|Штип}} {{IPA|mk|ʃtip||Mk-Shtip.ogg}}) is the largest urban agglomeration in the eastern part of North Macedonia, serving as the economic, industrial, entertainment and educational focal point for the surrounding municipalities.

As of the 2021 census, Štip had a population of about 44,866, making it North Macedonia's sixth most populous city.<ref name = Statisticaloffice>Macedonian Census (2021), [http://www.stat.gov.mk/publikacii/knigaX.pdf ''Book 5 - Total population according to the Ethnic Affiliation, Mother Tongue and Religion''], The State Statistical Office, Skopje, 2002, p. 196.</ref>

Štip is the largest textile production center in the country. It is the center of the fashion industry in North Macedonia, as well as the site of the sole public university in eastern North Macedonia, the Goce Delčev University of Štip.

The city is the eponymous seat of the Municipality of Štip.

==Name== The name ''Astibos'' is first mentioned by the ancient historian Polyaenus in the 2nd century BC, who notes that Paeonian kings did ritualistic bathing in the Astibo/Brigantium (today: Bregalnica) river, as a coronation ritual. Astibo is also marked in the Tabula Peutingeriana, as one of the stations from Stobi (near modern Gradsko) to Serdica (today: Sofia). The name evolved from the ancient ''Astibos'', to Byzantine ''Stipeon'', to modern Štip.<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=ОСНОВНИ ПОДАТОЦИ ЗА ОПШТИНА ШТИП|url=https://www.mchamber.mk/upload/Documents/Regionalni/Osnovni%20podatoci%20za%20opstina%20Stip.pdf|publisher=MChamber|date=2017|language=mk}}</ref>

It is generally acknowledged that the Slavic 'Štip' follows Proto-Albanian phonetic rules and was acquired via the Albanian 'Shtip'.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Matzinger|first=Joachim|title=Der altalbanische Text Mbsuame e krështerë (Dottrina cristiana) des Lekë Matrënga von 1592 : eine Einführung in die albanische Sprachwissenschaft|date=2006|publisher=Dettelbach : J.H. Röll, ©2006|isbn=978-3-89754-117-7|location=Dettelbach|language=German|oclc=65166691}}</ref>{{sfn|Prendergast|2017|p=80}}<ref>{{Cite book|last=Katičić|first=Radoslav|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T8ZhAAAAMAAJ|title=Ancient Languages of the Balkans|date=1976|publisher=Mouton|isbn=978-90-279-3315-7|language=en}}</ref> Shtip may indicate that Proto-Albanian was spoken in the region in pre-Slavic antiquity.{{sfn|Prendergast|2017|p=80}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ismajli|first=Rexhep|date=2015|title=STUDIME PËR HISTORINË E SHQIPES NË KONTEKST BALLKANIK|url=http://www.ashak.org/repository/docs/RISMAJLI_397704.pdf|website=Ashak.org}}</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kosovo/_FMZQQAACAAJ?hl=en Origins: Serbs, Albanians and Vlachs Chapter 2 in Noel Malcolm's Kosovo, a short history (Macmillan, London, 1998, pp. 22-40)] - 'The evidence is in fact very mixed; some of the Albanian forms (of both urban and rural names) suggest transmission via Slav, but others -including the towns of Shkodra, Drisht, Lezha, Shkup (Skopje) and perhaps Shtip (Stip, southeast of Skopje) - follow the pattern of continuous Albanian development from the Latin.' </ref> The local Aromanian community also refer to the city as {{lang|rup|Shtip}}.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

==Geography and climate== thumb|210px|left|Snow-covered Otinja river The city is located at the intersection of the Lakavica, Ovče Pole, and Kočani valleys.

Two rivers pass through Štip, * the Bregalnica river, which is the second longest in North Macedonia, and * the Otinja river, which divides the city center.

The Isar hill, with its early medieval fortress on top, dominates the city and provides for the common reference as "The town under the Isar".

The area surrounding the city is suffering from deforestation which is contributing to the extreme temperatures, summers being hot and dry with mean temperatures around {{convert|32|C|F}} and days above {{convert|40|C|F}} being common. Winters are short (usually less than 2 months) and mild (though considered cold for the area) with normal temperatures around {{convert|-2|C|F}}, but with occasional drops down to {{convert|-10|C|F}}. Spring usually comes in February, when most of the foliage is regenerating, although freak snow storms could appear as late as May.

The soil is mostly sandy, and has large patches of red soil ({{langx|mk|Црвеница}}, ''crvenica'') which indicates large percentage of Iron in the soil.

The geographical area of the city of Štip is bordered * by the Plačkovica mountain to the east, * by the Krivolak valley to the southeast, * by the estuary of the river Bregalnica in the southwest, and * by its alluvial plain in the north.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stip.gov.mk/?jazik=1&id=020105|title=Geography of Shtip|date=13 September 2007|access-date=13 September 2007}}</ref>

{{Weather box |location = Štip |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan record high C = 15.0 |Feb record high C = 21.0 |Mar record high C = 26.1 |Apr record high C = 32.8 |May record high C = 36.0 |Jun record high C = 38.0 |Jul record high C = 42.6 |Aug record high C = 38.9 |Sep record high C = 35.0 |Oct record high C = 30.6 |Nov record high C = 23.9 |Dec record high C = 20.0 |year record high C = 42.6 |Jan high C = 4.5 |Feb high C = 8.1 |Mar high C = 12.7 |Apr high C = 18.1 |May high C = 23.2 |Jun high C = 27.3 |Jul high C = 30.1 |Aug high C = 30.0 |Sep high C = 26.2 |Oct high C = 19.5 |Nov high C = 11.9 |Dec high C = 6.1 |year high C = 18.1 |Jan mean C = 0.7 |Feb mean C = 3.5 |Mar mean C = 7.5 |Apr mean C = 12.5 |May mean C = 17.3 |Jun mean C = 21.1 |Jul mean C = 23.4 |Aug mean C = 23.0 |Sep mean C = 19.2 |Oct mean C = 13.4 |Nov mean C = 7.4 |Dec mean C = 2.4 |year mean C = 12.6 |Jan low C = -2.8 |Feb low C = -0.8 |Mar low C = 2.5 |Apr low C = 6.6 |May low C = 11.0 |Jun low C = 14.3 |Jul low C = 16.1 |Aug low C = 15.8 |Sep low C = 12.4 |Oct low C = 7.7 |Nov low C = 3.1 |Dec low C = -1.1 |year low C = 7.1 |Jan record low C = -19.5 |Feb record low C = -18.0 |Mar record low C = -10.6 |Apr record low C = -1.1 |May record low C = 2.8 |Jun record low C = 7.0 |Jul record low C = 8.3 |Aug record low C = 7.5 |Sep record low C = 2.0 |Oct record low C = -5.0 |Nov record low C = -9.0 |Dec record low C = -14.5 |year record low C = -19.5 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 30.0 |Feb precipitation mm = 29.0 |Mar precipitation mm = 33.1 |Apr precipitation mm = 39.9 |May precipitation mm = 57.6 |Jun precipitation mm = 47.3 |Jul precipitation mm = 37.5 |Aug precipitation mm = 31.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 31.6 |Oct precipitation mm = 44.0 |Nov precipitation mm = 52.2 |Dec precipitation mm = 40.3 |year precipitation mm = 474.0 |unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 7 |Feb precipitation days = 7 |Mar precipitation days = 10 |Apr precipitation days = 10 |May precipitation days = 10 |Jun precipitation days = 6 |Jul precipitation days = 4 |Aug precipitation days = 4 |Sep precipitation days = 4 |Oct precipitation days = 7 |Nov precipitation days = 9 |Dec precipitation days = 9 |year precipitation days = 86 |Jan humidity = 80 |Feb humidity = 75 |Mar humidity = 68 |Apr humidity = 63 |May humidity = 63 |Jun humidity = 59 |Jul humidity = 53 |Aug humidity = 54 |Sep humidity = 59 |Oct humidity = 68 |Nov humidity = 78 |Dec humidity = 82 |year humidity = 67 |Jan sun = 86.9 |Feb sun = 112.5 |Mar sun = 161.1 |Apr sun = 198.4 |May sun = 245.2 |Jun sun = 276.3 |Jul sun = 323.0 |Aug sun = 305.4 |Sep sun = 247.5 |Oct sun = 188.2 |Nov sun = 114.8 |Dec sun = 79.6 |year sun = |source 1 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (sun 1961–1990)<ref name = DWD> {{cite web | url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_135910_kt.pdf | title = Klimatafel von Stip (Schtip) / Mazedonien | work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world | publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst | language = de | access-date = 1 April 2016}}</ref><ref name = DWDsun> {{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt | server = Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration | url-status = dead | title = Station 13591 Stip | access-date = 1 April 2016}}</ref>{{efn|[https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195318/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/help/stations_list_CLIMAT_data.txt Station ID for Stip is 13591] Use this station ID to locate the sunshine duration}} }}

==History== thumb|220px|St. Nikola Church

===Antiquity=== It is probable that the capital of the Paeonian royal house was in the area of '''Astibus''' (Astivos, Άστιβος in Ancient Greek).<ref>A History of Macedonia: Historical geography and prehistory p. 202 {{ISBN|0-19-814294-3}}</ref>

The Paeonians were situated in the region west of the fertile Axius river basin, around the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The two tribes that lived along the river Astibo, an estuary to the Axius, were the Derrones, named after their god of healing, Darron, and the Laeaeans, who minted their own heavy coins as a sign of their sovereignty following the example of the Greek city-states on Chalkidiki. Although these tribes were heavily weakened by the Persian invasion of 480 BC, led by King Xerxes I, they remained a formidable power and a well-organized people, renowned for the production of their exceptionally heavy coins with emblems including domesticated specimens of the wild aurochs for which Paeonia was also famous. They were absorbed into the Macedonian Empire by Alexander I before 360 BC.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Miracle that was Macedonia|last= Hammond|first= N. G. L.|year= 1991|publisher= Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd|location= London|page= 22}}</ref>

The area itself is first mentioned in the writings of the historian Polien from the 3rd century BC, who talks of a river named "Astibo" which is presumed to be the river Bregalnica today. Polien also states that the Paeonian emperors were crowned in Astibo.

The first mention of a settlement dates to the reign of Roman emperor Tiberius (14-37 AD), when ''Estipeon'' is mentioned as an important settlement in the Roman province of Paeonia and the second stop on the Roman road from Stobi to Pautalia.

In the 6th century, the Slavs raided the Balkans and destroyed the Byzantine settlement, and the Slavic tribe of Sagudates permanently settled the area.

===Middle Ages=== Many rulers controlled the area of Štip during the early Middle Ages.

Štip was part of the Bulgarian Empire, but after the Byzantine victory in the Battle of Kleidion in 1014 it fell again under Byzantine rule until the reestablishment of the Bulgarian Empire in 1185.

From the mid-13th century the town changed hands several times.

By 1284, Serbian King Stefan Milutin conquered the region; he mentioned Štip explicitly in 1308 and did not wish to give it up to the Byzantines.<ref name="Srećković1888">{{cite book|author=Pantelija Slavkov Srećković|title=Istorija srpskoga naroda: Vreme kraljevstva i carstva (1159-1367)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UG88AAAAMAAJ|year=1888|publisher=Kraljevsko-srpska drž. štamparija|page=223}}</ref>

In a document of Serbian Tsar Stefan Uroš that dates between 1293 and 1302, in which the citizens of Štip are named, there are several figures listed with Albanian names and anthroponomy. Furthermore, in a 1330 letter by Serbian Tsar Stefan Dušan, several figures with Albanian names and anthroponomy (including the last name ''Arbanasin'', which literally means ''Albanian'') were recorded.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gashi |first1=Skënder |title=Emrat e shqiptarëve në shek. XIII-XV në dritën e burimeve kishtare serbe |date=2014 |publisher=TENDA |location=Prishtinë |page=71 |url=https://albanianorthodox.com/emrat-e-shqiptareve-ne-shek-xii-xv-ne-driten-e-burimeve-kishtare-serbe/}}</ref>

In 1334, the Church of the Holy Archangel in Štip, built by ''protosebastos'' Hrelja who held the region under the Serbian crown, was according to his wish granted (''metochion'') to Hilandar, in a charter of King Stefan Dušan.<ref name="Zirojević1984">{{cite book|author=Olga Zirojević|title=Crkve i manastiri na području Pećke patrijaršije do 1683. godine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isAYAAAAMAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Istorijski institut u Beogradu}}</ref>

The region was annexed by the Ottoman Empire after a raid in 1385.<ref>John V. A. Fine, The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, University of Michigan Press, 1994, p. 407</ref> It was known as '''İştip''' and was made the seat of a sanjak. thumb|200px|left|Štip at the end of the 19th century There is little information about the development of Štip during Ottoman rule which would continue for the next five centuries, interrupted only during 1689–1690 when the city was taken by the Austrians for two years. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Štip was part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire.

===20th century===

In 1912, at the start of the Balkan Wars, Štip and the surrounding area was occupied by Bulgaria. But Bulgaria's defeat, after it, dissatisfied with the result of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies in 1913, which resulted in the annexation of all of Vardar Macedonia into the Kingdom of Serbia. Štip was occupied by Bulgaria and Germany during the First World War.

Events concerning the Kingdom of Serbia meant that Štip then became a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes together with the rest of Vardar Macedonia. right|thumb|Štip in 1926. From 1929 to 1941, Štip was part of the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

On 6 April 1941, when Yugoslavia was attacked by Nazi Germany, the city was bombed by German planes which took off from Bulgaria.<ref>[http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/default-mk.asp?ItemID=5D2102FC26ED5442A562E17B88A1B876&arc=1 Dnevnik newspaper] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928045509/http://www.dnevnik.com.mk/default-mk.asp?ItemID=5D2102FC26ED5442A562E17B88A1B876&arc=1 |date=28 September 2011 }}</ref> During the Second World War the Axis-allied Bulgarian forces occupied the city until early September, 1944, after which it was taken by German troops. Štip was retaken by the Macedonian National Liberation Army and the newly allied Bulgarian Army, now part of the anti-Axis coalition on 8 November 1944.<ref>{{cite book | last = Williamson | first = Gordon|author-link=Gordon Williamson (writer)| year = 2004 | title = The Waffen-SS (2) 6. to 10. Divisions | publisher = Osprey | isbn = 1-84176-590-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stip.gov.mk/?jazik=1&id=02|date=7 September 2007|title=City of Shtip|access-date=7 September 2007}}</ref>

Thus, 8 November is celebrated as "Liberation Day" in the city of Štip and its broader municipality, and is a non-working holiday.

==Demographics== According to the National Census of 2002 the populations of Štip Municipality breaks down as follows:

{| class=wikitable |- !'''Štip municipality''' !!'''Total''' !!'''Macedonians''' !!'''Turks''' !!'''Romani''' !!'''Vlachs''' !!'''Serbs''' !!'''Albanians''' !!'''Bosniaks''' !!'''Others''' |- ||'''Total''' ||47796 ||41670 ||1272 ||2195 ||2074 ||294 ||12 ||11 ||265 |- ||'''Women''' ||23876 ||20935 ||612 ||1039 ||981 ||153 ||4 ||6 ||146 |- ||'''Men ''' ||23920 ||20735 ||660 ||1156 ||1093 ||144 ||8 ||5 ||119 |- ||'''R.M. (%) ''' ||2.36 ||3.21 ||1.63 ||4.07 ||21.39 ||0.83 ||0 ||0.06 ||1.26 |}

As of 2021, the city of Štip has 42.000 inhabitants and the ethnic composition was the following:<ref name="Statistical Office">{{cite web |title=Archived |url=http://makstat.stat.gov.mk/PXWeb/pxweb/en/MakStat/MakStat__Popisi__Popis2021__NaselenieVkupno__PodatociNaselenie/T1503P21.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=46ee0f64-2992-4b45-a2d9-cb4e5f7ec5ef |website=makstat.stat.gov.mk |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225143154/http://makstat.stat.gov.mk/PXWeb/pxweb/en/MakStat/MakStat__Popisi__Popis2021__NaselenieVkupno__PodatociNaselenie/T1503P21.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=46ee0f64-2992-4b45-a2d9-cb4e5f7ec5ef |archive-date=December 25, 2022}}{{dl|date=April 2023}}</ref>

* Macedonians – 32.658 * Romani – 2.293 * Aromanians – 1.389 * Turks – 1.022 * Serbs – 163 * Albanians – 29 * Bosniaks – 12 * Others – 288 * Persons without data – 4.146

==Economy==

Today, Štip is the center of North Macedonia's textile and fashion industry.

Formerly the home of such industrial giants in the former Yugoslavia like the cotton industry company "Makedonka" - Štip, with its enormous suburban campus, and the fashion industry brand "Astibo", from their ashes many private mini-factories were created, mostly by former managers in the socialist giants, which employ most of the women in town today, with fashion and textile still being the core skills of the city population, as maintained by the educational system.

Some of the larger private textile and fashion houses in Štip are: * Albatros, * Beas-S, * Kit–Go Teks, * Gracija, * Modena, * Mavis, * Maksima, * LARS, * Linea, * Briteks, * Stipko, * Stip-teks, * Longurov, * Vivendi, * D&A, * Amareta, * Anateks, * Angroteks, * EAM, * Milano, * Vabo, * Zogori, * Metro Premier, * Tekstil Invest-Denim, * Tekstil Logistik and * Eskada.

==Government== The current mayor of Štip is Ivan Jordanov ({{langx|mk|Иван Јорданов }}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stip.gov.mk/index.php/mk/gradonacalnik|title=City Mayor}}</ref>

The city is ruled by the "City Council" which is elected every four years. The counselors are usually members of the strongest political parties. Every city council elects a president. The president of the city council leads the sessions and also signs the decisions together with city mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stip.gov.mk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=51&Itemid=70&lang=en|title=City Council|date=13 September 2010|access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref>

==Transportation== {{Unreferenced section|date=July 2025}} The public transport is organized in suburban services and inter-city.

The suburbs of * Babi, * Senjak, * Prebeg, * Makedonka, * Novo Selo and Kežovica, etc. are served by a fleet of municipal buses running 7 days a week and connecting several locations in the city center with the suburbs.

The inter-city services are provided by the public transportation company "Stipion 2011" which has connections to all cities in North Macedonia as well as some neighboring countries.

The train station located in the northern suburb "Železnička" provides links to * Kočani in the east, and * Veles and Skopje to the west. thumbnail|right|Štip railway station There is a large fleet of private taxi vehicles in the city, with very competitive prices.

Štip can be reached by car through the M-5 highway (Štip-Kočani-Delčevo) in North Macedonia, and the connection to the E-75 Štip-Veles highway.

Travel direction in the region goes via the R-601 (Štip-Plačkovica) and R-526 routes that go through the city and connect to the M-5 freeway.

==Education== There are numerous pre-school, elementary/primary and middle school institutions in Štip and its municipal area.

There are five high/secondary schools, each somewhat specialized in a particular field, according to the educational policy of North Macedonia. The five high schools are as follows: * Medical Secondary School "Jane Sandanski" ({{langx|mk|Државно средно медицинско училиште}}) - [http://soujanesandanskistip.edu.mk/ web site] * Music High School ({{langx|mk|Музички училишен образовен центар}}) - [https://www.facebook.com/DMUCSergejMihajlovShtip/ facebook page] * Textile Secondary School "Dimitar Mirasčiev" ({{langx|mk| Државно средно текстилно училиште „Димитар Мирашчиев“}}) - [http://www.dmirasciev.com.mk/ web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303124255/http://www.dmirasciev.com.mk/ |date=3 March 2021 }} * Secondary School for Children with Special Needs — Iskra - [http://www.iskra.edu.mk/ web site] * Electro-Technical Secondary School "Kole Nehtenin" ({{langx|mk|Државно средно електротехничко училиште}}) - [http://kolenehtenin.edu.mk/ web site] * Lyceum "Slavčo Stojmenski" ({{langx|mk|Државна гимназија „Славчо Стојменски“}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://schools.edu.mk/searchsites/high.php?fieldname=Municipality&updown=desc|title=Macedonian High School Portal|date=13 September 2007|access-date=13 September 2007}}</ref> - [http://slavcostojmenski.edu.mk/ web site]

The city is also the home of one of North Macedonia's four public universities, the Goce Delčev University of Štip.

The private music high school "Oksia"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oksia.com.mk/|title=Private Music High School "Oksia"|date=13 September 2010|access-date=13 September 2010}}</ref> completes the list of educational institutions in the city.

In the town and its vicinity there are three 14th century-era churches, built in the time when the town was a part of medieval Serbia. * The oldest one is the monastery church of St. Michael under Isar hill, built in 1332 by protosevast Hrelja who donated it to Chilandar, the Serbian monastery on Mount Athos. * On the south slope of Isar stands a small church dedicated to St. John the Baptist built by nobleman Jovan Probištitović in 1350. * A single nave church dedicated to the Ascension of Jesus (''Sveti Spas'') was built in 1369 by duke Dimitrije. In it one can still see original, 14th century frescoes as well as those from its reconstruction in 1601, done by master Jovan.<ref>''Blago na putevima Jugoslavije'', Belgrade 1983, p. 573</ref>

The Bezisten, a massive stone building which used to be an indoor bazaar (now an art gallery) is a remnant of the Ottoman influence in the city.

In the old parts of the town (and especially in Novo Selo), some houses built in the Ottoman style of architecture can still be found.

The town also boasts the healing powers of the Kežovica mineral spa and with the ruins of the ancient city of Bargala.

The ancient city of Bargala is located at the foot of the Plačkovica mountain. Nearby is the Kozjačka river and a small village called Kozjak. It is believed that the ruins found there belong to the ancient city. The town was built in the early 4th century, because there are some Roman documents found, containing information that the city gate of Bargala was built by Anthon Alipius, administrator of the province.

A statue of Alexander the Great was placed in the city's square in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=Исчкртана и откорната таблата пред споменикот на Александар Велики во Штип |url=https://meta.mk/ischkrtana-i-otkornata-tablata-pred-spomenikot-na-aleksandar-veliki-vo-shtip/ |website=Meta mk |language=mk |date=7 October 2020}}</ref>

==Arts and culture== Štip boasts the largest festival of pop music in North Macedonia, called MakFest. It has been held every November in the "Aco Šopov" cultural center for over two decades.

Another large cultural event in Štip is the "Štip Summer of Culture" ({{langx|mk|Штипско Културно Лето}}), which is a monthlong festival held from 1 July to 1 August, since 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stip.gov.mk/?jazik=1&id=020401|title=Cultural Manifestations|date=13 September 2007|access-date=13 September 2007}}</ref>

The first known opera performance in North Macedonia was staged in Štip in 1925.<ref name="opera">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurm.edu.mk/international-students/about-macedonia/101-facts-on-macedonia.html|title=101 Facts About Macedonia|date=4 November 2010|access-date=4 November 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306232647/http://www.eurm.edu.mk/international-students/about-macedonia/101-facts-on-macedonia.html|archive-date=6 March 2014}}</ref>

In 2013 the Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs was inscribed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists of North Macedonia.<ref>{{cite web| title= Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs in Štip|url= http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/RL/feast-of-the-holy-forty-martyrs-in-stip-00734 |publisher= unesco.org|access-date=2015-12-23}}</ref>

==Sports and recreation== Štip has four professional football teams, * FK Bregalnica Štip which plays in the Macedonian First League, * FK Babi which plays in the regional leagues, * FK Astibo which play in the regional leagues and * "Kežovica" which plays in the 3rd League East. * Panda Basketball Academy The town stadium in Štip, which also serves as FK Bregalnica's home ground, is the main stadium and it hosted the 2011–12 Macedonian Cup final.

RK Tekstilec is Štip's sole handball club and they play their home games at the sports hall of the Tošo Arsov Primary School.

==Media== Štip has many media establishments.

The first private television station in North Macedonia (and also in former Yugoslavia) "TEKO TV", was founded in Štip by Mr. Mile Kokotov in 1989. The channel is no longer operational.

The other currently operational local TV stations are: * "TV IRIS" and * "TV STAR".

Important radio stations are * "Kanal 77", one of the most popular Macedonian radio stations, * "Radio Štip" ({{langx|mk| Радио Штип}}) and * the Roma language radio station "Radio Cherenja" ({{langx|mk|Радио Черења}}).

The local newspaper is called "Štipski Vesnik" ({{langx|mk|Штипски Весник}}).

==Notable people== {{Listen | filename = Štip – Kočani dialect speech - Štip.ogg | title = About the wedding customs in Štip | description = Excerpt of speech by a woman from Štip speaking in the local Štip – Kočani dialect about the local wedding customs }} * Ivan Mihaylov, the last leader of IMRO * Todor Aleksandrov, leader of IMRO after WWI * Mihajlo Apostolski, the first commander of the Army of People's Republic of Macedonia * Ljubčo Georgievski, Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia from 1998 to 2002 * Kiro Gligorov, first president of the Republic of Macedonia * Ljupčo Jordanovski, former acting president of the Republic of Macedonia * Nikola Kljusev, first Prime Minister of the independent Republic of Macedonia * Lyubomir Miletich, Bulgarian linguist, ethnographer, dialectologist and historian * Bojan Miovski, footballer * Ferus Mustafov, Romani musician * Nataša Petrović, actress of Serbian descent * Dragoslav Šekularac, a former-Yugoslav football legend * Aco Šopov, poet * Zoran Vanev, pop-folk singer * Gabriel Athonite, monk, ascetic and bishop

==Twin towns== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in North Macedonia}} Štip is twinned with Split, Croatia,<ref name="Split twinnings">{{cite web|url= http://www.split.hr/Default.aspx?sec=526|title=Gradovi prijatelji Splita|access-date=19 December 2013|work=Grad Split [Split Official City Website]|language=hr|trans-title=Split Twin Towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324035937/http://www.split.hr/Default.aspx?sec=526|archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> and Balıkesir, Turkey.<ref>[http://balikesir.bel.tr/documents/file/bb_FoldersFiles/KY14_Karde%C5%9F%20%C5%9Eehirler-031a5a69-a5ce-42fb-b9cb-bfc003ee61f8.pdf Sister/Twin Cities of Balıkesir]</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Ismajli|first=Rexhep|title=Studime për historinë e shqipes në kontekst ballkanik|trans-title=Studies on the History of Albanian in the Balkan context |url=http://www.ashak.org/repository/docs/RISMAJLI_397704.pdf |editor=Eqrem Basha|publisher=Kosova Academy of Sciences and Arts, special editions CLII, Section of Linguistics and Literature|number=55|year=2015|place=Prishtinë|language=sq}} * {{Cite thesis|title=The Origin and Spread of Locative Determiner Omission in the Balkan Linguistic Area|url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7nk454x6|publisher=UC Berkeley|date=2017|language=en|first=Eric Heath|last=Prendergast}}

==External links== {{Commons category| Štip}} {{wikivoyage|Štip}} * [http://www.stip.gov.mk/ Official web site of the city of Štip] * [http://www.kanal77.com.mk/ Official web page for National Broadcast Radio Network Kanal77] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090422012838/http://www.tvstar.com.mk/ TV Star] * [http://www.iris.com.mk/ Iris TV] * Radio Štip * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110415011316/http://www.cerenja.com.mk/ Radio Čerenja]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stip}} Category:Štip Category:Towns in North Macedonia