1. Strumica gives the best value for your money! You think you tried cheap tasty food in Skopje and Ohrid? Wait till you arrive in Strumica… One delicious meal with great local wine in the best fine dining restaurants will cost you no more than 6€. Private taxi (that can fit 4 passengers) will take you literally anywhere in the city for 0.8€ ONLY! The experience of drinking ice cold beer in the most popular coffee bar costs 1.2€ and you will most likely get free snacks and lovely atmosphere.

2. While talking about how affordable the restaurants are, let’s not even mention how good the food is. Yes, every city says that, but Strumica is the most famous producer of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the country. It’s basically the hometown of Ajvar! Local people prepare it every year in their home backyards as food for the winter when peppers are much more expensive. The article linked here, will give you 15 recommendations and suggestions about what to try and where to eat in our city.

3. Strumica is known to be the city of great parties, live music and vibrant night life! Even though it is a small city, the coffee bars, restaurants and night clubs are open and crowded every weekend of the year (sometimes even on Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.) Locals here enjoy spending time with their friends and relatives, and finishing the work-week with good old music and a glass of Mastika.

Mastika is the famous brand of alcohol, that is not rakija, it is not vodka, nor ouzo – but for sure is strong enough to be counted in the same category. Trying Mastika is a must do when visiting the Eastern part of the country, and Strumica is proud to be producing it!

4. After Mastika or two, it’s a good time to start talking about history. Even though somehow history here is always neglected, this city has a lot of stories to tell. From 1000 years old Monasteries, to historically significant places where famous battles took place. One of those places is “Pirgo” in the mountain Belasitsa.

There Tzar (Emperor) Samuel and his army lost the battle with the Byzantine Empire. After the defeat the soldiers who survived were imprisoned. The Byzantine Emperor divided the prisoners into groups of 100 men and blinded 99 of them in each. One man in each group was left with one eye only so that he could lead the others home to the Tsar. When Tsar Samuel saw his blinded army, he died of a heart attack.

Even though it’s tragic, isn’t that one amazing history fact to learn!

5. If not history, nature is something that will definitely charm you. Waterfalls are Strumica’s most beautiful tourist attractions, but there are lots of amazing villages where the nature is still almost untouched. There you can still feel how cow milk truly tastes like… How a real tomato smells when cut in half… How a newborn calf looks while playing around it’s cow mama… For someone who is surrounded by the big city lights on a daily basis, visiting one of the many Strumica’s agricultural villages can be a real reconnection with nature.

So, if you think this charming town deserves to be included in your next Balkan tour, here you can find some more useful information about where to stay, what to try and where to go. Or simply get in touch with us, and we as locals, will be glad to help you get the most out of your stay in our city.

The post The real 5 reasons why you should include Strumica in your Balkan tour appeared first on Sky Apartments Strumica.

„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.

Visiting fancy museums or seeing spectacular buildings is not why people from all around the world come to the city of Strumica. Here, the real attraction are the many great restaurants and “kafani”. And do you know what is the best part? A culinary experience of traditional food and fine wine will cost you less than a single entrance ticket to almost any tourist attraction in Europe.

Very often the guests in our apartments are asking us what traditional or typical dish would we recommend them to try while in Strumica. We love that question! That’s why we answer it here with 15 delicious recommendations, but please note that we are not trying to advertise any of the mentioned restaurants, we just hope to be helpful to the readers who are visiting our city for the first time.

15. “Tavce Gravce” with homemade sausage

It’s just baked beans, sausage and some spices. BUT! Few hours of cooking a in a large clay pot in an old-fashioned stone oven is what makes these beans the best beans you have ever tried. Dried Macedonian paprika is usually added to enhance the flavor of a true “Tavce Gravce” serving.

14. Pastrmajlija with pork or chicken meat

Pastrmajlija is another delicious thing that comes out of a hot stone oven. Soft and tender dough with cubes of seasoned pork or chicken meat (plus cheese, mushrooms and sesame seeds, if you prefer a richer taste) – it takes you to culinary heaven with just one bite! Pastrmajlija is such a famous dish, that cities like Veles and Shtip, dedicate special festivals in its name.

13. Grne

Possibly the tastiest way to prepare meat! Again, it is cooked in traditional clay pot, but this time inside of it you will find pork, beef or/and chicken meat with vegetables and a rich cover of cheese. Once you open the pot (grne) and sense the amazing aroma that comes out of it, you suddenly want to start cooking in clay pots for the rest of your life! The meat is so tender and soft and juicy that even those who don’t enjoy eating meat that much, will find it irresistibly delicious.

12. Bosilanka

Okay, we know pizza is Italian. We won’t try to steal the credit for it at all. But what we are about to recommend you is more than just pizza. “Bosilanka” is delicacy invented and made only in one restaurant near Strumica – “Pizzeria Park Bosilovo”. Over there you might find many traditional items on their menu, but people always come back for the famous “Bosilanka”.

11. Burek

“Burek” is something that can be found in many bakeries around the Balkan countries. But very often it’s either too greasy, or too dry and tasteless… That’s why we recommend a place that makes freshly baked burek each morning – and it’s located in the center of the center in Strumica. Burek with cheese, with meat or with pizza filling, the choice is yours – but don’t forget to order a glass of “Joka” yogurt or ajran to go with it.

10. Selska Tava

All the goodies on one plate. Tender pork, juicy chicken, homemade sausage, paprika and more. A lot of good restaurants prepare this kind of dish differently, but the point is to take the best ingredients that nature has to offer and cook them slowly and skillfully. If you don’t find it on the menu with this name, you can ask your server for “turli tava” or “selsko meso”.

9. Fish “Pastrmka”

You are right, Strumica doesn’t have a natural lake or big river. But we do have one restaurant that serves fish so good, that even people from cities with lake come here to enjoy it. This restaurant serves many kind of fish, but the most famous one in this part of the Balkan is “Pastrmka”, which is an endemic species of trout living in the beautiful Lake Ohrid.

8. Sarma

When you see it, it looks very simple… but the skillful hands of the cook know how much time and effort it takes to make the perfect, delicious rolls of “sarma”. To this day, this dish is still a big part of the everyday cuisine in Strumica. That’s why in a family fridge it is very likely to be found an ice cream container, that doesn’t have ice cream in it, but it’s filled with leftover sarma rolls from a previous meal. Simply beautiful, isn’t it!

7. Sutlijas (rice pudding)

How can something so simple as white rice and milk can be so so tasty? Some people like it plain, some like it with a little bit of cinnamon or vanilla flavor. Either way, this simple desert is best when consumed hot and freshly made.

6. Ekler

Another sweet bite that might make you want to ask for more! Usually, when people from Strumica go to a pastry shop they order one “ekler” and one “tulumba” or “indijanka”, and then a glass of “boza”, “spricer” or lemonade. Our grandparents love it, we love it and our kids love it! It’s the universal dessert for every generation.

5. Langidi (Mekici)

Most people call them “mekici”, but people from Strumica call them ‘langidi”. If you can make it sound funny, just do it, right? Basically, we are talking about deep fried dough made with yogurt, but somehow it can be one delicious breakfast if you combine it with sweet “lokum” or white cheese. Traditionally, “langidi” are served when a new baby is born. Friends and relatives gather to congratulate the happy family and they eat one or two in the name of the newborn.

4. Ajver

If you have come to visit Strumica, then welcome! You have just arrived in the home city of Ajver (spelling is not wrong – in Strumica it is pronounced with an “e”)! Since this city is the biggest producer of peppers in the country, it is very acceptable to say that Strumica makes the best
red-pepper-caviar IN THE WORLD! Different people might like it differently, and there are plenty of recipes with all sorts of ingredients – we respect that! But the real thing can only be tasted when homemade in the backyard of some family house in Strumica.

3. Sweetened chestnut

If you can find it homemade then you are really lucky and the family that makes it is awesome! But because chestnuts are not produced in huge quantities, a lot of people haven’t even heard of this mega delicious dessert. Trust us – It’s a must try!

2. “10ka” and a bottle of “Strumka“

If you are looking for a local experience, then you just found it. This combo is as local as it gets! “10ka” (or simply 10) is the known name for a big sandwich with 10 “kebapi”, some onion and some sour cabbage salad. But what brings the local touch to all of this is the refreshing carbonated beverage “Strumka”, that has been produced in our city since we can remember.

1. Shopska salad and a glass of “Mastika“

As our last recommendation here, we have the famous “Strumicka Mastika” and one simple salad that has only 3 main ingredients: fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and delicious white cheese (plus some oil and salt). You can make that anywhere in the world, but while in Strumica we recommend going to the farmers market and buying fresh, local cucumbers and tomatoes (frenki in Strumica’s dialect), and making it for yourself. Most people visiting from far away countries, amazed by the taste of the vegetables, admit that they never knew tomatoes and cucumbers could taste like that.

At the end, one bonus tip – finish your meal with a hot black (Turkish) coffee, the way it’s prepared here in our town, and let us know which dish was your personal favorite!

This list could be very very long if we try to mention every good menu item in the restaurants in Strumica. That’s why, for now, we will stop here. But we do have plenty of other tasty suggestions, that can help the guests of our town discover new hidden culinary jams.
So, dear guests, always, always, always feel free to contact us and ask as many questions as you want – it’s going to be a true pleasure to share some of our love for Strumica with you.

The post 15 amazing delicacies to try in Strumica 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.