Gorna Belica

Is situated 16 km northwest of Struga. The village is now mostly the weekend residence of Strugites, but it has a fine Vlach church, a high view onto Ohrid Lake, proximity to the Via Egnatia and good hiking up to a glacial lake and a cave church. The village became a settlement in 1769, when Aromanians (Vlachs) of Moskopole, in southern Albania, were expelled of that town by the destruction commited by the local Ottoman bey, and moved up here with all their animals, belongings and families. They chose this place along the River Belica, where villagers believe that the old decrepit Church of Sv Clement is no less than his actual 9^th-century summer monastery from before he moved to Ohrid permanently as bishop.

The Vlachs built their new church, Sv Petka, and it is a good example of an early 19^th-century Vlach church. Inside the church, above the central lantern in front of the iconostasis, there is a wooden hawk. This original system still flaps the wings of the hawk as the lantern is pulled up and down, emiting a loud clapping noise.

The village celebrates two festivals in honour to its patrons: Sv Petka and Sv Clement (8 and 9 August). Another interesting event in the village is connected with the Church of the Perumba. This tiny church was built in 1998 in honour of a local legend about a girl who was being chased several centuries ago by the local Ottoman bandits. The girl tried to run up against the steep cliff rocks and fell to the ground exhausted knowing that there was no way for her to escape. Then she prayed to God for deliverance and when the thugs were trying to catch her, they saw her fragile body fly up to the air as a pure white dove (

The village celebrates two festivals in honour to its patrons: Sv Petka and Sv Clement (8 and 9 August). Another interesting event in the village is connected with the Church of the Perumba. This tiny church was built in 1998 in honour of a local legend about a girl who was being chased several centuries ago by the local Ottoman bandits. The girl tried to run up against the steep cliff rocks and fell to the ground exhausted knowing that there was no way for her to escape. Then she prayed to God for deliverance and when the thugs were trying to catch her, they saw her fragile body fly up to the air as a pure white dove (perumba). The dove flew away and local people have honoured this place as a holy site. 

From the village leads a mountain hiking trail to the mount of Jablanica and the peak Crn Kamen. It’s possible to go also to the small glacial lake – Vevchanska Lokva and descent from there to the village of Vevchani. 

From the village leads a mountain hiking trail to the mount of Jablanica and the peak Crn Kamen. It’s possible to go also to the small glacial lake – Vevchanska Lokva and descent from there to the village of Vevchani.