Last Chance To See

ABOUT three miles from Hotel Izgrev are the remains of a church possibly dating to the fourth century (experts seem unsure).

Although little more than the foundations of the walls survive, I thought it might be worth a visit, especially as the church, known locally as the Bazilika, has attractive floor mosaics.

It is located on the outskirts of a what is regarded as a village, but I would have described as a small town, whose name is, as with many places in this area, a matter of contention.

In Macedonian it is known as Radolišta, but the inhabitants, who are of Muslim Albanian descent, call it Ladorisht.

The main approach to the settlement is dominated by the Albanian double-headed eagle

The church was first excavated in the 1950s, with more work undertaken and completed in the 1970s.

The good news is entrance to the site is free; the bad news is no one could realistically charge anything to see the neglected ruins.

Overgrown stones of the church with a modern minaret in the central background

The church is believed to have belonged to an Illyrian people known as the Dassaretii, who had lived in the area from about 500 BC.

It is hard to believe there will be any ruins left to see in a few years' time