Strumica

(Macedonian: Струмица)

Strumica is a town situated in the south-east of the Republic of Macedonia (close to the Novo Selo-Petrich border crossing with Bulgaria). The population is close to 55,000 with an absolute Macedonian majority (90%). There are all together about 150,000 people living in the region surrounding the city. The city is named after the Strumica river which runs through it. The city of Strumica is a seat of the Strumica municipality.

In present days Strumica is the main agricultural center in the Republic of Macedonia, has many textile factories and developed trade network. Large percent of the goods produced in Strumica are used for export in other cities in the Republic of Macedonia as well as in some European Union countries. Strumica is therefore one of the richest area in the Republic of Macedonia. Strumica is developing into modern city and expanding its infrastructure in the last few years. The improvement of infrastructure is also determined by Strumica's geographic position (some 20 kilometers from Bulgaria and 45 kilometers from Greece).

The population of Strumica mainly consists of Macedonians (about 93%), Romas (about 2%), Turks (about 3%) and others (about 2%).

• Number of inhabitants: Around 150.000, Strumica itself 54.676
• Area: 321,89 sq. km
• Geographic position: 41o26’42’’ N, 22o38’20’’ E
• Climate: Sub-Mediterranean
• Average temperature:
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 2400
• Local area code: 034

“The city with hundreds of shops” will offer you various dishes for your satisfaction, actually you will not find far East specialities here. But, the main characteristic in Strumica is that you’ll be the one saying: OK, it’s enough. Your table will be desperately full of everything so you may be tired to “fight” against all that food in front of you. Starting from the centre and the nice Dukat restaurant, mainly offering you fresh grilled meat and their wonderful salads, looking everywhere, you’ll see many restaurants and pizzerias, take a walk and visit Bonita with their fantastic pizzas and Macedonian “pastrmajlija”, if you like fresh and beautiful fish from Macedonian lakes or somewhere else go to Pelikatnik, you’ll be delighted for sure. Finally, take a 0,7 euros cab and visit the Strumica pearl of restaurants; the house Loven Dom and be patient to wait for a place if you didn’t reserve it upfront. A wonderful place to see the whole valley on the palm of your hand and enjoy the food prepared by real masters.

Strumica and it’s area was inhabited in the 6th millennium BC according to the archaeological examinations (Neolithic settlement “The site” near the village Angelci), and close to the city of Strumica, at the Tsar’s Towers hill a pre-historic culture existing in the late neolith to early bronze age has been discovered (4th to middle 3rd millennium BC).

In written documents the town was mentioned for the first time by roman historian Tit Livius, in 181 Year BC, under the name Astarion, due to the Peyonic tribe Astrai (people from the stars). In 168 BC, the city became a part of the Roman Second Meridia (province), and under the Romans it changes the name in Tiberiopolis. A marble pedestal dedicated to the Patron Tiberius Claudius Menon from the end of 2nd and beginning of the 3rd century certifies that period of the history. In the time of Roman emperor Julian Apostata (Julian Renegade), 15 Martyrs (15 Saints) were executed here and buried in the church 15 Martyrs dating from the 4th century. The Empire collapsed in 395 EC and Tiberiopolis was a part of Macedonia Salutaris (end of 4th century) and Macedonia Secunda (end of 5th century).

The invasion of the Slavs (end of 6th and beginning of 7th century) on the Balkans brought devastation of the town. The Slav tribe Strumjani inhabited the area, and that sclavinia stayed independent for a certain period of time, until it was conquered by Byzantine Empire.

The battle between Samuil and Vasilius took place in Strumica ravine in 1014, and since then the town was under Byzantine Governing. At 13th century, Strumica was attacked and conquered by Serbian rulers, but that was for a very short period, because after the battle on the river Marica in 1371 the Ottomans invaded these parts of the Balkans.

The history of the city under the Turks is not different than the others. The main “doctrine” of Ottomans was that the best for the sultan is when nothing happens in the empire.

In 1913, after the withdrew of the Turks, Strumica was a place of two ally armies, and with the Bucharest Peace Agreement it fell under Bulgarian administration, and that caused a big revolt among the Greeks who were stationed in the town. The Greeks have burned the town in their revolt, and the city was burning since 8th to 15th of August 1913, and was almost completely destroyed.

Till 1919 it was under Bulgarian administration, and finally with the Versay Peace Agreement and the end of WW-1 Strumica became a part of the kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, kingdom of Yugoslavia later. The people of the region have to suffer the attempts of assimilation between the two wars, and with the end of the WW-2 definitely became free and a part of Macedonia, in the Federal Republic Yugoslavia. Today, Strumica is a part of independent Republic of Macedonia.

This is the sportiest city in Macedonia for sure. Should you like to play collective sports, they have grounds for all of them. Should you like to ride your bike, take a tour around the municipality (you don’t have to cross the Bulgarian- Macedonian border, 22 km on the east), but just drive around the villages, they are many anyway. Mountain walker? Yes, just pass by your Loven Dom restaurant, take a walk to St. Ilija church – only 4 km in the hills, then make your choice: go to the artificial lake and feel the strength of the sun on you, or make a circle around and back to town. You’ll meet many Strumica people on your way inviting you to seat and have a drink with them, and one drink is always more than one here. You may take a walk on the waterfalls in Smolare and Kolesino, see the 1014 battlefield, visit the mountain villages there and enjoy the beauties of Belasica Mountain.

Definitely, you’re on the right place here, the night life is normal for everybody in Strumica, it usually begins something before midnight and lasts till early in the morning. Don’t be surprised if you sit or dance with them for long, and then they propose you to make a “serenade” to some friends in the morning, and then your Strumica novel will open the next chapter, you are partly "Strumicanec" already.

• By car: 155 km South-east from Skopje (2 hours easy drive), 114 km north-east from Thessalonica, 210 km south-west from Sofia, 40 km north from Greek border in Dojran, 45 km north-east from Greek border in Bogorodica - Gevgelija, 22km from Bulgarian border in Novo Selo
• By plane: www.airports.com.mk (Skopje)
• By bus: www.sas.com.mk (Skopje)
• By train: No train, they don’t need it at all.

The church of Holy 15 Martyrs will open some new knowledge about the Bible country Macedonia, the locality of Tsarevi Kuli which is in excavation works now, The Church St. Leontie or Vadoca Monastery as it’s well known, where the blinded Samuil soldiers were brought after the lost battle, or the real beautiful pearl Nun monastery Mercy Eleusa (ask them for Veljusa, to be sure they’ll understand you). Strumica is almost one nationality town, but surely it’s the multi-confessional cradle of Macedonia. Beginning with the beautiful St. Kiril and Methodius orthodox church, through the Catholic Cathedral and the Protestant church in the down-town, you’ll be welcome everywhere.

If you happen to be here in February, or you are on your way through Macedonia, come to Strumica, The Carnival takes place (sometimes it takes a week), be Strumica guest, you will feel the same like you’re in little part of Rio or Viareggio.