Strumica is a city in the southeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. According to the 2021 census, the city has 33,825 inhabitants, making it the largest in the Southeast Planning Region and the tenth largest city in Macedonia. The city is located in the Strumica Plain and lies on the slopes of Mount Elenica, where the medieval fortress Tsarevi Kuli is situated.
Strumica is more than a city – it is a living legend, a light that burns in the heart of every Strumican, no matter where they are in the world. With roots stretching back to antiquity, when it was known as Astraion, Strumica has been part of empires, a passageway for armies, a stage for revolutions, and home to an unyielding people. In the Middle Ages, it was adorned with significant churches and monasteries, and throughout the Ottoman period into modern times, Strumica remained the cultural, economic, and spiritual heart of the southeast.
Recent findings near Strumica confirm the theory of a Neolithic route from the shores of the Aegean Sea to the central Balkans. Discovered fragments of ceramic vessels, typical Neolithic figurines, house remains, cult objects, and similar artifacts indicate the existence of pottery of a high standard. Excavated tools (hoes, axes, chisels) and female figurines symbolizing fertility show that an agricultural and pastoral population lived here.
In the first half of the 6th century, along the valleys of the Struma and Strumica rivers, the Strumyani settled. In the Life of the Tiveriopolis Martyrs it is written that “a barbarian people… entered the Tiveriopolis lands, destroyed many towns, including Tiveriopolis itself, killing some of its inhabitants by the sword, taking others captive, and leveling the beautiful buildings and temples to the ground.”
Between 1382–1383 and 1395, Strumica and its surroundings fully came under Turkish rule. During the Ottoman era, in Turkish administration, Strumica was called Ustrumçe. It was incorporated into the Kyustendil Sanjak, where the feudal spahi–timar system was established. Nomadic Turkmen shepherd populations settled in the city, changing its appearance into an oriental one.
After the Berlin Congress of 1878, when Turkey lost a large part of its Balkan territories (Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria), many refugees poured into Macedonia, some settling in Strumica. This population was known as muhacirs.
The increasingly difficult situation for the Macedonian population under Turkish rule led to the formation of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) on October 23, 1893, in Thessaloniki. The first person to accept IMRO’s ideas in the Strumica region was Stojan Gjorgjiev from Dabille, who in 1895 formed the first local committee in Strumica. The Ograzhden District Macedonian–Adrianople Revolutionary Committee was also formed and operated in this area. One of the most prominent leaders of the revolutionary organization was Hristo Chernopeev, who also took part in the Young Turk Revolution (1908–1909), which did not result in the liberation of the Macedonian people, who remained under Turkish rule.
With the First Balkan War in 1912, the Turks were defeated and expelled from Macedonia, including Strumica, by the Balkan allies (Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Montenegro). Strumica came under Bulgarian rule.
In the summer of 1913, Strumica and its surroundings experienced a second, brief but brutal occupation by Greek forces. On June 25, just nine days after the outbreak of the Second Balkan War, Greek troops broke Bulgarian positions south of the city and entered Strumica the next day. On August 8, Greek forces set Strumica on fire, with the flames only subsiding on the 15th.
During the Second Balkan War and World War I, due to heavy Greek pressure from Aegean Macedonia, large masses of Macedonian population fled north, with many settling in the Strumica region.
With the Treaty of Bucharest (July 28, 1913), Strumica remained under Bulgarian control until 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I and incorporated Strumica into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (from 1929, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). In that kingdom, the Macedonian people were deprived of rights and subjected to Serbian assimilation.
In World War II, Strumica was taken by the German army on April 6, 1941. Germany, under its alliance agreement with Bulgaria, handed Strumica over to Bulgarian occupation on April 18, 1941. Displeased with the occupation by fascist forces, the Macedonian people, including those from Strumica, began military actions against them. On September 11, 1944, the Bulgarian army withdrew from Strumica, and on November 5, 1944, the German army also left. Strumican Blagoj Jankov – Mucheto was declared a National Hero. Other well-known Strumican heroes from World War II include Sando Masev, Boro Dzoni, and Geras Tsunev.
After the war, Macedonia became a federal unit within the Yugoslav federation. During the Informbiro period, many innocent Strumicans suffered, and some never returned home.
Strumica is one of the most culturally dynamic municipalities in Macedonia. Known for its old carnival, actors, poets, musicians, directors, and artists, the city is a cradle of talent. With the Anton Panov Theatre, numerous cultural centers, and events, here culture is not just decoration – it is a way of life.
Strumica is a culinary paradise. The fertile soil and sunny climate make the region ideal for growing:
Sport in the Strumica region has a long tradition and has achieved top results, making Strumica one of the biggest sports cities in the country and a nursery of young talents. The city has a rich history in football, handball, basketball, volleyball, and martial arts, with well-developed sports infrastructure and young athletes who proudly carry the city’s name. FK Belasica is more than a club – it is an institution. Young athletes train with dedication, achieve success, and pass on their passion through generations.
Strumica is not just a place – Strumica and Macedonia are a feeling. A blend of old and new, pride and hope, tradition and vision, home and emotion.
