Struga

For other places with the same name, see Struga (disambiguation).

Struga Струга
Flag Coat of arms
Struga Location within Macedonia
Coordinates: 41°10′N 20°40′E
Country	Macedonia
Municipality	Struga municipality
Elevation	693 m (2,273 ft)
Population (2002)
• Total	16,559
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	6330
Area code(s)	+389 46
Car plates	Struga car plate
Website	http://www.struga.gov.mk/

Struga (Macedonian: Струга [ˈstruɡa] ( listen), Albanian: Strugë) is a town and popular tourist destination situated in the south-western region of the Republic of Macedonia, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. The town of Struga is the seat of Struga Municipality.

Etymology

The origins for the name Struga come from Old Macedonian language. There are three theories regarding the name, both of which are espoused by the local inhabitants of the Struga region.

The first theory is that the name of the town originated from the geographic location of the town. Located at the foot of an open valley and subject to a windy climate, it was suggested that the name originates from the old Macedonian term: струже ветер (it blows wind). The second theory says that the name of the city origins from the old Macedonian word straga, meaning a cross. The old name of the city is Ενχαλών Enchalon, the ancient Greek word for eel, a kind of fish that lives in the Lake Ohrid. The third theory comes from the Old Macedonian word str'g which means water branch.

Geography

Struga is located in an open valley on Lake Ohrid. The Black Drin river starts at the lake and divides the city.

Demographics

As of the 2002 census, the city of Struga has 16,559 inhabitants and the ethnic composition was the following:

• Macedonians, 8,901 (53.7%)
• Albanians, 5,293 (32.0%)
• Turks, 907 (5.5%)
• Vlachs, 550 (3.3%)
• others, 908 (5.5%)

The mother tongues of the city's residents were the following:

• Macedonian, 9,665 (58.4%)
• Albanian, 5,615 (34.0%)
• Turkish, 823 (5.0%)
• Aromanian, 271 (1.6%)
• others, 185 (1.1%)

The religious composition of the city was the following:

• Orthodox Christians, 9,197 (55.5%)
• Muslims, 7,075 (42.7%)
• others, 287 (1.7%)

City of Struga population according to ethnic group 1948-2002

Ethnic group	census 1948		census 1953		census 1961		census 1971		census 1981		census 1994		census 2002
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Macedonians	..	..	2,194	43.9	3,423	49.9	6,215	54.2	8,002	55.9	9,433	58.9	8,901	53.8
Albanians	..	..	1,109	22.2	1,649	24.1	3,508	30.6	4,149	29.0	4,330	27.0	5,293	32.0
Turks	..	..	927	18.6	994	14.5	730	6.4	832	5.8	887	5.5	927	5.5
Romani	..	..	141	2.82	0	0.0	12	0.1	421	2.9	114	0.7	97	0.6
Vlachs	..	..	536	10.7	0	0.0	0	0.0	337	2.35	462	2.9	550	3.3
Serbs	..	..	42	0.9	54	0.8	106	0.9	84	0.6	91	0.6	72	0.4
Bosnians	..	..	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	16	0.1
Others/undeclared	..	..	47	1.0	737	10.8	904	7.9	500	3.5	720	4.5	723	4.4
Total	4,923		4,996		6,857		11,475		14,325		16,037		16,559

Culture

Struga Poetry Evenings international festival logo.

Struga is also a place of important cultural significance in the Republic of Macedonia, as it is the birthplace of the poets Konstantin and Dimitar Miladinov. The main event of the cultural life in Struga is the world's largest poetry gathering, Struga Poetry Evenings, whose laureates have included several Nobel Prize for Literature winners such as Joseph Brodsky, Eugenio Montale, Pablo Neruda, Seamus Heaney, Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca and many others since 1966.

Frescoes from the rock church in the monastery of Kalishta.

There are several cultural monuments in Struga and in its vicinity such as the Monastery of Kališta, a few kilometers away from the town center, lying on the shore of Lake Ohrid. It is believed that it dates from the 16th century, with frescoes from the 14th and the 15th centuries. Another rock church is present in the neighbouring village of Radožda with frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries. The Church Sveta Bogorodica (St. Mary) in the village of Vraništa, is believed to be the one where Tsar Samuel was crowned. The church has many doors and far fewer windows and often the people call it "the king's church" especially at nighttime when it's cold.

The church of St. George is also located in the town; built on top of Samuel's church, it has many icons from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. Near the village of Radolishta, a basilica from the 4th century has been discovered, with a mosaic. Struga's old architecture, dating from the 18th and 19th century is also a cultural highlight.

Tourism

The Black Drin river flowing through the city.

Much of the town's meager income is through internal tourism. Struga's location on Lake Ohrid makes it a slightly quieter and more peaceful experience than the more bustling Ohrid. When visiting this quiet town of the Republic of Macedonia, there are a few other places that show the beauty and culture, like the clay chamber pots at the house of the Miladinovci Brothers, the old Struga bazaar, the century old churches and mosques. Before the evenings you can enjoy on 3 kinds of beaches called Male beach (maška plaža), Female beach (Ženska plaža) and the most beautiful called Galeb (Gull), located just before the estuary of the river Crn Drim (Black Drim) in its own flow, and between the two previous beaches. Just in front of the Male beach, at the estuary of the river Crn Drim it is located the biggest 5 star Hotel Drim in Struga. Out of the town there is another tourist place near the lake called Biser (Pearl), also a hotel.

Every August at the Poetry Bridge are held the Struga Poetry Evenings (SPE) (Macedonian: Струшки Вечери на Поезијата) visited by poets, writers and artists from all around the world.

Every summer in the culture center of Struga - summer open scene, it is organized cinemania and alter music festival 'Come, Row' ( Macedonian: Дојди Веслај ) including rock, metal, electro, hip hop, r'n b and many more groups from around the country. At night you can walk by the lake, by the river, or go at the most popular discos like Oaza, Glamour, Alibi, Empire and others. There's also very beautiful bars and pubs located by the lake, by the river and in the center of Struga such as Grifon, Tullamore Dew, Plivalishte (The swimming pool), Ženska Plaža (Female beach), Cinema, Admiral, Album, Ke vujna ti (At your aunt), Street, Irish pub 'The Harp', Sweet Cafe, Blue Sky, Aquarius and many others.

Churches

• St. George Church - from the 13th century;
• St. Nicholas Church
• Church of the Myrrhbearing Women.

Twin towns

• Mangalia, Romania
• , Famagusta, Cyprus

See also

• Struga Poetry Evenings
• List of people from Struga

External links

• Struga Municipality
• Points of interest in Struga
• Struga travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Struga Tourism Portal