Church of Saint Sophia, Ohrid

Church of Saint Sophia, Ohrid tickets: which one to buy

The Church of Saint Sophia stands in the old town of Ohrid in North Macedonia, near the lake shore, and a small admission is charged. It is one of the most important medieval monuments in the country, with some of the finest Byzantine frescoes in the Balkans, and it is part of the UNESCO listing of the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid region.

Walking tours of Ohrid combine Saint Sophia with the church of Saint John at Kaneo on its cliff, the ancient theatre, the Plaosnik site with the church of Saint Clement and Panteleimon, the Samuel's Fortress and the old bazaar. The old town is compact but hilly, with steep cobbled streets. Boat trips along the lake shore are popular. Summer evenings bring concerts to the church during the Ohrid Summer Festival, taking advantage of its acoustics. The entrance ticket is sold at a small booth at the gate of the churchyard.

Visiting Church of Saint Sophia, Ohrid: what to see

The church was built in the ninth century, possibly on the site of an earlier basilica, and rebuilt in the eleventh century by Archbishop Leo, when Ohrid was the seat of an important archbishopric. In the fourteenth century an elegant two-storey exonarthex, or porch, with towers and arcades was added to the west. During the Ottoman period the church was converted into a mosque, and its frescoes were covered with whitewash and a minaret was built; this protected the paintings, which were uncovered and restored in the twentieth century.

The frescoes of the apse and the sanctuary, dating from the eleventh century, are the church's greatest treasure, including the Virgin enthroned, the Communion of the Apostles and portraits of church fathers. Other frescoes show scenes from the Old Testament and the Ascension. The church's marble pulpit dates from the Ottoman period. The upper gallery of the exonarthex, reached by stairs, gives views across the old town rooftops to the lake. Fragments of later frescoes in the side chapels show saints and church councils. Inscriptions painted in Greek identify many of the figures. The acoustics under the dome make it a favourite concert venue.

Church of Saint Sophia, Ohrid opening hours and the best time to go

The church is open daily, closing in the early afternoon on some days in winter. Ohrid is busiest in July and August, when the lake beaches are crowded and the Ohrid Summer Festival brings music and theatre to the old town, including concerts in Saint Sophia. June and September are pleasant, with warm weather and fewer visitors. Winter is quiet and chilly. Mornings are the best time to see the frescoes, as the light inside is soft. Allow about forty minutes for the church, and walk along the lakeside path to Saint John at Kaneo, the most photographed church in North Macedonia. Ohrid's old bazaar, a short walk away, has workshops making Ohrid pearls, a local speciality made from fish scales.