Tour 08. Bargala – Roman City and Center of Christianity

Bargala is an archaeological site east of the city of Shtip (ancient Astibo) with Thracian origin, flourishing in the Late Antiquity and Early Byzantine period. Inscriptions at the site state that the city gate was constructed in 371/372 AD. Bargala’s first traces in the literature are from 451 AD, in the list of the meeting of Halkedon, where the episcope Dardanius from Bargala is listed near the episcope Nikola from Stobi.
Bargala was an important religious and cultural centre of the middle Bregalnica region in the Roman province of Macedonia Secunda. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the prosperous city was the seat of a bishopric with a basilica complex at its centre and four more basilicas. Gold coins of Emperor Phokas (602-610) are discovered at the locality, as well as 6th and 7th century Slavic pottery.
Besides many basilicas, the archaeological excavations discovered trade quarters, water tank, large bath complex with cold and hot baths and impressive fortification system with beautiful main gate and carefully planned infrastructure. The Church of St.George dating from the end of the 4th century was discovered right next the southernmost watchtower of Bargala fortress.