Did you know ?

  • Did you know that Strumica is one of the oldest towns in the Balkan Peninsula and that its existence dates back to BC?
  • Did you know that the very first name of Strumica was Astraion which was mentioned for the first time in the year of 181 BC and it means – starry town? The second name of the town was Tiberiopolis which dates back to the Roman period, and its present name – Strumica is Slavonic and it was mentioned in the medieval Slavonic documents.
  • Did you know that the legend about the name of the town is associated with the daughter of the Roman emperor Tiberius – Struma, who, in the name of love, committed treason to her father? In the vicinity of the village of Banica there is a peculiar tomb which is thought to be Struma’s grave. The nine limestone layers of this tomb are associated with the part of the legend in which Tiberius cursed his daughter to be thrown out of the grave nine times.
  • Did you know that the protectors of Strumica are the “St Fifteen Hieromartyrs of Tiberiopolis” who spread Christianity in this area because of which were executed on the 11th of December, 362 AD by the servants of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate?
  • Did you know that in the vicinity of Strumica the famous battle in Belasica between the armies of the Byzantine emperor Basil II and the Macedonian tsar Samuel took place? In the battle, Samuel’s 14 thousand army suffered by being blinded. To every hundredth soldier one eye was kept so that the one-eyed soldiers could lead the army to their tsar.
  • Did you know that the monastery churches and complexes “St Mother of God Eleusa” (village of Veljusa), “St Leontius” (village of Vodocha), “St Fifteen Hieromartyrs of Tiberiopolis” (Strumica) and “St Forty Martyrs of Sebaste” (village of Bansko) include Strumica in the most significant towns in Macedonia and in the Balkans in terms of history of church architecture and immovable cultural heritage?
  • Did you know that the archaeological site “Tzar’s Towers” that rises above Strumica is a silent witness of the existence of several civilizations who resided in this region, and that the researches on this site record evidence of the ancient history, 7000 years long?
  • Did you know that the late ancient Roman thermal spa (Banja Bansko), which is located 12 km east of Strumica is a health resort of antiquity and as such is one of the most rarely preserved Roman monuments of this kind in Europe?
  • Did you know that in Strumica there is the cultural monument “Orta Mosque” (XI-XII century) under the foundations of which a medieval church and the remains of other epochs were found?
  • Did you know that the famous Turkish travel writer Evliya Çelebi stayed in Strumica in 1670?
  • Did you know that Strumica and its carnival have been declared among the world’s twenty most attractive carnival destinations?
  • Did you know that six international cultural events are organized during one year in Strumica?
  • Did you know that the “International Art Gallery of Strumica” is the oldest (in continuity) event of this kind in Macedonia?
  • Did you know that Strumica with its surroundings is the most agricultural region in Macedonia?
  • Did you know that the second president of the Republic of Macedonia – Boris Trajkovski was born in Strumica?
  • Did you know that the most renowned seer in Europe – Baba Vanga was also born in Strumica?
  • Did you know that Strumica has given international athletes in various sports, such as Istatov, Ringov, Gjorgiev, Pandev, Popov, Stojkov, Baldovaliev…(football); Ilievski (basketball), Rusomanov, Nakovski, brothers Gjorgiev…(volleyball) and many others?
  • Did you know that Strumica team competition in sports has been awarded five national championship titles so far?
  • Did you know that the citizens of Strumica speak in their own dialect which is one of the most interesting and most original dialects of the Macedonian language?
  • Did you know that out of 365 days in a year there are as many as 230 sunny days and that the pleasant weather is a result of mixing of the Mediterranean and the continental climate?