Macedonia
The 11th-century Byzantine Monastery of the Theotokos Eleusa, set above the village of Veljusa, is a sublime retreat amidst gardens and sloping lawns, decorated with centuries-old frescoes.
Follow the road leading up through Veljusa village, only a few minutes by car from Strumica.
A hidden jewel of a waterfall in the forests of Belasica Mountain, Smolare is not like a thundering Niagara but is a tranquil hiking destination with pure ice-cold waters.
Above the village of Smolare, located just beyond Novo Selo, a 40-minute drive from Strumica.
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