Prilep

Prilep Прилеп
Panorama of Prilep from Marko's Towers
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): "the city under Marko's Towers"
Prilep Location in the Republic of Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°20′40″N 21°33′10″E / 41.34444°N 21.55278°E / 41.34444; 21.55278Coordinates: 41°20′40″N 21°33′10″E / 41.34444°N 21.55278°E / 41.34444; 21.55278
Country	Macedonia
Municipality	Prilep Municipality
Government
• Mayor	Marjan Risteski (VMRO-DPMNE)
Area
• City	1,194.44 km2 (461.18 sq mi)
Elevation	+620 m (2,030 ft)
Population (2002)
• City	66,246
• Density	64.27/km2 (166.5/sq mi)
• Metro	79,834
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
Postal codes	7500
Area code(s)	(+389) 048
Patron saints	Saint Nicholas
Climate	Cfa
Website	http://www.Prilep.gov.mk

Prilep (Macedonian: Прилеп [ˈpriːlɛp]) is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Macedonia. It has a population of 66,246 and is known as "the city under Marko's Towers" because of its proximity to the towers of Prince Marko.

The name of the city comes from the Greek: Πρίλαπος (Prilapos), and in other relevant languages is:

Prilep covers 1,675 km² (647 sq mi) and is located in the northern Pelagonia plain, in southern Macedonia. Prilep is the seat of the Prilep municipality and access is gained via the M5/E65. It is 128 km (80 mi) (airline) from the capital Skopje, 44 km (27 mi) from Bitola, and 32 km (20 mi) from Kruševo.

Prilep is a center for high-quality tobacco and cigarettes and the metal processing, electronics, timber, textiles, and food industries. The city also produces a large quantity of Macedonian Bianco Sivec (pure white marble).

Tobacco is one of Prilep's traditional cash crops and prospers in the Macedonian climate. Many of the world's largest cigarette makers, such as Marlboro, West and Camel use Prilep's tobacco in their cigarettes after it is processed in local factories such as Tutunski kombinat Prilep. A Tobacco Institute is established in the city in order to produce new types of tobacco and it was the first example of applying genetics to agriculture in the Balkans..