Beys lodgings in Banica village, vicinity of Strumica

At about three kilometers from the town of Strumica, lies the village of Banica that in the time of the Ottoman empire was a county with houses that belonged to beys. Some of them remain until now a days and they are one of the cultural monuments in Macedonia. Besides the historical value, they are also significant because of their specific architecture.

The overnight shelter tower of Jusuf Derejija was used as a resting place for the bey.

The object is composed of ground floor, mezzanine and a floor. The first two levels were used as a barn, and the highest floor as a living quarter. There is a wide enclosed porch that leads to the only room for relaxation. Between the wooden posts on the enclosed porch, segmented bows had been set up, very typical for these parts of Macedonia. The overnight shelter was built out of stone and bondruk construction.

The second of the two Bey's lodgings is larger because it was meant to be a place for a longer stay. It was built in order to provide a comfortable life. It is consisted of ground floor and floor. In the yard a steam bath was built that was used only by the members of the beys family. The steam bath was massively built and is with smaller dimensions than the other steam baths from that time on the territory of Macedonia.

Besides the lodgings, a partially ruined mosque is kept in the village of Banica. The mosque according to its size and way of construction reflected the wealth and the bower of the village beys. It is set up on a square basis with a round minaret, that is polygonal above the shereph. The time when this mosque was built is still unknown, but there are sum presumptions that it dates from somewhere around the 16th century.

D. Kareva

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