Strumica
is located in south-eastern Macedonia. The town had 94,517 residents in 1991.
The fortress Carski Kuli is all that remains from the old town located on the
hill above the modern day Strumica. The castle dates back to the 11th century.
The Macedonian state collapsed in 1018 after Samoil lost the battle on Mount
Belasica in 1014, against the Byzantine army led by Basil II.
Fourteen thousand of Samoil's men were captured; Basil ordered them all to be blinded, leaving one in every hundred with one good eye to lead back the blind troops to Samoil, who collapsed dead upon seeing what Basil had done to them.
Strumica is the centre of the wide rich Strumica valley. Here are grown poppy, cotton, tobacco, sesame, peanuts and aniseed, an important ingredient used in the production of the famous Macedonian ouzo - Mastika.
The Church of Saint Leonie which dates from the 11th century is the most famous historical monument in Strumica. "Strumicansi" also call it Vodocha which means "blinded eyes". The legend says that it was here where the 14,000 Samoil's soldiers were blinded by Basil II.
The Church Saint Bogorodica which is found near the village of Veljusa, also dates from the 11th century. Found here is a crypt that according to legend belongs to Struma, the sister of Krali Marko, while according to another, dates to the time of Alexander the Great.
Spa Banjsko is found 15 km from Strumica, with its healthy mineral streams are considered to be the hottest in Macedonia (75C degrees). Approximately 8 km from Strumica there is an artificial lake, Lake Doiran, and the border with Bulgaria is 22 km from the town.
SodrzinaGlavna Strana