The Old Bazaar in Skopje is finally getting a reconstruction — after more than 50 years without serious intervention. The Čair municipality is launching a project worth 470,000 euros that will cover 1,567 square meters: new travertine cobblestones, modernization of underground infrastructure, and lighting in traditional style.

Mayor Međiti announced a "real transformation" — water supply, sewage, electric and fiber-optic networks, all going underground while the surface preserves its authentic appearance. On paper, the project sounds solid: preserving historical identity while adding modern functionality.

What remains to be seen is whether the 470,000 euros will actually reach the cobblestones, or get lost along the way. The Balkan tradition of reconstructions is well-known — marble-level promises, cardboard-level results. But if this time it really is completed as planned, the Old Bazaar may finally get a face worthy of the history it carries on its back.