„Since I have placed my entire hope in You, O immaculate Mother and fountain of mercy, I, a shepherd, monk Manuel, Your servant, offer to You, Sovereign Lady, this church”

That is what the founder, Episcope Manuel, wrote on the marble plaque on the entrance of the – Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Eleusa. Founded almost 1000 years ago, ever since today’s Strumica was called Tiveriopol, many people won’t count this monastery as one of the main Macedonian tourist attractions. But if one is truly familiar with the culture and the history of this region he/she would be aware of the invaluable importance of this mid century monument.

Located on a small hill in Strumica’s village Veljusa, this monastery is open daily, for everybody who wants to visit. No entrance ticket, no crowds, just less than 3€ private taxi ride or 10 minutes driving from the center of the city.

What makes it truly unique are it’s outstanding characteristics:

1. the original Macedonian-Byzantine architecture from the ancient 11th century;
2. Veljusa’s cross – first represented on the facade of the monastery and later (to this day) used as a symbol of the Macedonian Orthodox Church;
3. and most importantly, the incredibly beautiful mural that survived the flames of the fire that once burned the interior of the monastery. That mural shows Jesus as a 12 years old child, and it is one of only six of it’s kind – worldwide. Taking photos of it is not allowed, but everybody is welcomed to see it with their own eyes.

There are many words that could somehow describe the peaceful silence and deep tranquility that unobtrusively posses the space there. But none will be as good as one minute spent in the wide, carefully arranged monastery yard. You won’t even notice how you start whispering instead of speaking aloud, only to not disturb the extraordinary balance of the sounds of nature: the wind, the birds, and the leaves of the trees.
The clock tower, set above the picturesque village of Veljusa, quietly shows the passage of time, which visitors can hardly feel when enjoying the view in front of them. From up there, it is hard to believe that the monastery is located above one of the largest Strumica villages, and not above a lonely hill in an untouched nature.

The monastery is older even than the famous cathedral – Notre Dame, but over there you will not find hundreds of tourists looking for the perfect angle to take a good photo. On the contrary, the chances are great that a visitor will enjoy the privilege of sharing the space only with the 10 nuns who live there. Spending their days in prayer and work on their monastic duties, they will kindly welcome you to the monastery and answer your question if you politely ask. Made by their own hands, in a little area in the monastery, you will find: monastery liqueur from healing herbs, variety of natural teas from the local area, soaps with essential oils, hand-drawn icons etc.

If stress is part of your everyday life, this place could be your hidden spot where you can rest your thoughts and, at least for a few brief moments, enjoy the absolute tranquility.

The post Strumica – hiding a 1000 years old world heritage appeared first on Sky Apartments Strumica.

• Ohrid has its beautiful lake, Skopje has Matka – but Strumica is proud to be surrounded by many waterfalls, from which the most famous and the most magnificent ones, are the Smolare and Kolesino waterfalls. And let’s admit – there is something about vertical rivers that makes everybody at least a little bit excited! Both of them are 30-40 minutes drive away from the city center, but they are a true must-see for every nature-lover who is visiting Strumica. While you are in that area, consider spending an hour or two on a delicious traditional lunch in “Lebedovo Ezero” Restaurant (Swans Lake). If the weather is nice, there will probably be live music, lots of people and an awesome atmosphere.

• Ohrid has the Samuel’s Fortress, Skopje has it’s Kale – but Strumica has Czar’s Towers. Located on a high hill overlooking modern Strumica, this ancient ruined fortress might be way smaller and not as photogenic, but it carries stories and legends passed from generations to generations since the early 5th century. What is best about this fortress is the path that takes you there! “The St. Ilija” hiking trail will show you another part of the city of Strumica, hidden in a green shadow away from the traffic and the city crowds. And for those who don’t enjoy hiking that much, only a few minutes drive will take you to the “Complex Carevi Kuli” which includes a wonderful old-Macedonian-style restaurant, mini zoo and beautiful nature surrounding it. After you have a drink or a meal there you can head up to the Towers and get there after only 10 minutes walk without sweating at all.

• Ohrid has 365 churches, one for every day of the year, Skopje is surrounded by beautiful monasteries as well – while Strumica is known to be the city of two ancient treasures, two monasteries older than the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris: Monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos Eleusa in Veljusa and Vodoca Monastery dedicated to Saint Leontius. It doesn’t really matter if you are interested in history, archeology, religion, art, or simply nature, these two places have it all!

• Ohrid has its old town, Skopje has its city center and monuments – while Strumica is famous for its daily coffee-drinking culture and vibrant nightlife. That’s why the Old Strumica’s Bazaar (Stara Strumicka Carsija) and the “Korzo” street is where the heart of the city beats the strongest! Especially on “Korzo”, because it is closed for traffic, there are always people enjoying their coffee break or having a refreshing drink. At night during summer time, it can get so crowded that you might need some extra time to get from one end to the other.

• Ohrid has its beaches and beach bars, Skopje has its Central Park – but Strumica has a gorgeous park where no matter what time of the year it is, there always are young children running around and having fun, parents watching over them, teenagers living the days of their first love, tourists exploring the outdoors and elder people getting fresh air and catching up with each other. The small lake is the park’s centerpiece, so it’s always a pleasant experience to have a walk around it and recharge the batteries.

• Ohrid has many viewpoints overlooking the lake, Skopje has “Vodno” and “The Millennial Cross” – but Strumica has it too! There is a high cross rising above the city, illuminated by night, that is very easy to get to. Located on just 20 minutes walk from the center, the cross is nearby the “White Monument” (Spomen Kosturnica) build from white marble and carrying the bones of some of the city’s historical heroes. Unfortunately, vandalism takes some of the beauty away from this complex included in the cultural heritage of the country, but the view of the city from up there will compensate for the bad graffiti written all over the white surface.

• Ohrid and Skopje both have fancy bars, restaurants and coffee shops – but don’t underestimate this south-eastern beauty. Strumica has some of the most successful restaurants in the region, well known around locals as well as around visitors of the city. The rich agriculture in this area gives the best ingredients for delicious salads and unforgettable dining experiences. And after you have licked your fingers from the delicious food, if you are a guest of SKY Apartments, you can take a glass of good wine, Strumica’s Mastika, or a hot coffee and you can climb to the amazing SKY Rooftop Terrace. You don’t need to spend any money here, you don’t even have to put your fancy clothes on… all you need to do is find out what time the sun will set and enjoy the unforgettable views of the sky. We promise Strumica will look awesome from up there.

We hope we managed to steal your attention and made you put Strumica on your “to-visit-list”. Even though Ohrid and Skopje are beautiful cities, one should definitely visit, we like to believe that Strumica also has a lot to offer in order to make someone enjoy their vacation, and maybe even more importantly – to represent what living in this area of the Balkan is really like!

The post 7 reasons why Strumica deserves the same attention Ohrid and Skopje are getting appeared first on Sky Apartments Strumica.