day 8 Skopje to Radovis and Strumica.

Radovis

 

Situated in the southeastern part of Macedonia beneath the mountain Plackovica, Radovis enjoys a Mediterranean climate suitable for the cultivation of tomatoes, peppers and tobacco. The region is also known for its copper and iron mines.

 

According to legend, the town got its name from the medieval queen Rada, who was looking down from the castle walls when her fiance exclaimed, "rado vis!" ("behold with pleasure!")

 

The legend explains that this exclamation was meant to warn the queen of enemy attack, and so became synonymous with the town's endurance in the face of hardship over the centuries to come. During Byzantine times, Radovis was a regional commercial center. It was mentioned for the first time in a decree of Byzantine Emperor Basil II in 1019. The remains of several churches from that time survive even today. In 2003, an impressive Church of the Holy Trinity, with marble floor mosaics was built in Radovis.

Strumica

 

The capital of the southeast is a remarkably fun place. Strumica transforms itself into a carnival town near the end of each winter, and even throughout the year is renowned throughout Macedonia for its vibrant nightlife.

 

 

The Strumica area is full of things to see. Aside from hiking the nearby Mt. Belasica and waterfalls of Smolare and Kolesino, visitors shouldn't leave without experiencing the exquisite solitude of Vodoca and Veljusa, two nearby Byzantine monasteries still inhabited by monks and nuns and known for their fresco paintings, mosaics and general tranquility.

 

Strumica is most famous as a producer of high quality vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers, in addition to watermelons, cotton, sunflowers and other agricultural products. A leisurely drive through the many villages of this area is sure to be rewarded by sights of farmers on horse-drawn carts and women hanging peppers and tobacco leaves for drying from the sides of traditional homes.