Porta Macedonia

Triumphal Gate - Macedonia
Триумфална Порта - Македонија
Alternative names	Triumphal Arch (Триумфална капија, Триумфална порта)
General information
Type	Triumphal arch
Architectural style	Classical architecture
Address	Pela Square (Плоштад Пела)
Town or city	Skopje
Country	Republic of Macedonia
Opened	6 January 2012
Cost	EUR 4.4 million
Client	Government of Republic of Macedonia
Height	21 m
Design and construction
Architect	Valentina Stefanovska
Main contractor	Granit

Porta Macedonia (Macedonian: Порта Македонија) is a triumphal arch located on Pella Square in Skopje, Macedonia. Construction started in 2011 and was completed in January 2012.

The arch is 21 meters in height, and cost EUR 4.4 million. Its author is Valentina Stefanovska, sculptor who made several other grandiose monuments from Skopje 2014 project, including the statue dedicated to Alexander the Great officially named "Warrior on a Horse." During the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski admitted that he personally is the instigator of the Skopje 2014 plan.

The arch is dedicated to 20 years of Macedonian independence and its outer surface is covered in 193 m² of reliefs carved in marble, depicting scenes from the history of Macedonia. It also contains interior rooms, one of which has a function of state-owned souvenir shop, as well as elevators and stairs providing public access to the roof, allegedly intended as space for weddings.

The arch is facing criticism for its high cost. It is designed to match the almost equally tall statue of "Alexander the Great", erected in the capital's central square in summer 2011. Both constructions are part of the government-funded project named "Skopje 2014" with an estimated unofficial price tag €500 million. The Greek Foreign Ministry has lodged an official complaint to authorities in the Republic of Macedonia following the inauguration of the arch which features images of historical figures including Alexander the Great.