Negotino

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Negotino
Неготино
Coat of arms of Negotino
Coat of arms
Negotino (Republic of Macedonia  )
Negotino
Negotino
Location within Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°29′N 22°06′E / 41.483, 22.1
Country Flag of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonia
Municipality Negotino municipality
Highest elevation 150 m (492 ft)
Population ([citation needed])
 - Total 19,212
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 1440
Area code(s) +389 043
Car plates VE
Website: www.Negotino.org.mk/

Negotino (Macedonian: Неготино) is a town in the Republic of Macedonia. Its population is about 15,000. It is the seat of the Negotino municipality.

[edit] Geography

Negotino is situated on the right bank of the river Vardar. It is about 150 metres (490 ft) above sea level. Negotino is in a vineyard region and the gates of the Tikves basin, known for its fertility, are located nearby. Along with Kavadarci, Negotino is known as the home of Macedonia’s best wine and rakija (brandy). The M-1 highway leads through the city, parallel to the railway line connecting Skopje-Gevgelija-Greece.

[edit] History

A settlement in the location of modern Negotino existed and developed in antiquity. Between 278 and 242 BC, a city was founded by the Macedonian king Antigonus II Gonatas, under the name of Antigoneia. After conquering Paionia, he conquered the settlements around the central Vardar region.

Antigoneia was situated some twelve Roman miles south from the ancient city of Stobi, on the road to Thessaloniki, at the location of modern Gradiste, near the railway station of Negotino. At this place, Roman coins were found, as well as precious jewelry and other archeological findings from the period of the Roman and Byzantine period. The ancient city existed until the 11th century when it was destroyed by a disastrous earthquake which hit almost all of the territory of Macedonia along with other cities such as Skupi (Skopje), Stobi, Heraclea, Astibo, and Idomena.