commercial, and educational centre. It is
located in the southern part of the
Pelagonia
valley, surrounded by the
Baba
and
Nidže mountains, 14 km north of
the
Medžitlija-Níki
border crossing with
Greece. It is an important junction
connecting the south of the Adriatic Sea
with
the
Aegean Sea
and
Central
Europe. It has been known since the
Ottoman
period as "the city of the
consuls", since many European countries have consulates in Bitola.
According to the 2002 census, Bitola is the
second
largest city
in the country.
Bitola is also the seat of the
Bitola Municipality. Bitola is one of
the oldest cities on the territory in the Republic of Macedonia. It was founded
as
Heraclea Lyncestis
in the middle of the 4th century BC by
Philip II of Macedon. During the
Ottoman rule
the city together with
Salonica