Gorna Belica

Gorna Belica (Горна Белица; Belicë e Sipërme) is a village in the municipality of Struga, North Macedonia. The village is located close to the Albania-North Macedonia border.

Name
The village is known as Beala di Suprã in Aromanian.

History
The village appears in the 1467/68 Defter.

According to a local tradition, Gorna Belica was founded on the unseen slopes of Mount Jablanica by Aromanians from the villages of Niçë and Llëngë, fleeing the 18th century socio-political and economic crises in what is now southern Albania. Close family relations were maintained through intermarriage between Aromanians from Gorna Belica and those of Niçë and Llëngë. In the nineteenth century, other Aromanian groups like the Arvanitovlachs attempted to settle in Gorna Belica which caused friction with older Aromanian inhabitants but were allowed to do so later after negotiations. The Arvanitovlachs bought the properties of older Gorna Belica Aromanians who had converted to the Muslim faith and left the settlement.

During the first World War, Gorna Belica was occupied by the Bulgarian military who evacuated most of the Aromanian villagers and sent them into the interior of Bulgaria and Serbia. The relocation of local Aromanians was due to Bulgarian forces being concerned that pro-Greek and pro-Serbian sympathies existed among them resulting in possible cooperation with the Entente Allies. While in exile, some villagers had to fend for themselves whereas others for the Bulgarians did forced labour. Some Aromanians returning to Gorna Belica through Thessaloniki, Greece attempted to stay in that country and settle there though Greek authorities turned down their requests. p. 299. "The original group of Arvanitovlachs who came to Gorna Belica in the first half of the nineteenth century was about 150 strong. When they tried to settle in the village, the older, settled Vlach residents opposed them; but, despite the friction, after negotiations they were allowed to settle in the village, though only in the summer months to begin with. Gradually, some of the families started to buy houses in Gorna Belica from the older Vlach residents who had converted to Islam and left the village."; pp. 349-350. "According to local traditions, the exoduses from Niçë and Llëngë led to the establishment of two new Vlach villages north-west of Lake Ohrid, on Mount Jablanica. First Gorna Belica (Biala di ni sus) was established, high on the unseen slopes of Jablanica, and shortly afterwards Dolna Belica (Biala di n gios/Kimpu), down in the foothills.... The close relations between Gorna and Dolna Belica and the older Vlach villages of Niçë and Llëngë (a relationship akin perhaps to that between a metropolis and its colonies) is probably attested by the intermarriage and family connections which developed among them."; pp. 468-469. "The Bulgarians evacuated the inhabitants of Gorna and Dolna Belica... and all these displaced persons (or hostages, one might call them) were relocated to the interior of Bulgaria and Serbia. Some were left to fend for themselves until the end of the war, while others did forced labour for the Bulgarians. The Bulgarians did not relocate all these people for their own safety; their basic motive was to clear the area of the pro-Greek and pro Serbian population groups which might have been inclined to co-operate with the Entente Allies"; p. 470. "Some of the displaced Vlachs from Pelagonia passed through Greece on their way home. Many of them stayed on, like the efforts of the inhabitants of Gorna and Dolna Belica, who, on their way back from exile in Bulgaria, passed through Thessaloniki and sought official permission to settle on Greek territory - a request which Greek authorities never granted."

Aromanians from Gorna Belica were involved with trade, while Albanians worked as building labourers and both communities did little agricultural work as conditions in the area were not suitable. Until 1920, villagers from Gorna Belica used to trade with neighbouring villages of the Librazhd area in Albania. With Albania closing its border after the Balkan Wars (1912-1913), Gorna Belica was slowly abandoned with the last residents leaving around 1960. In the early 21st century Gorna Belica has become a recreational center for the municipality of Struga.

Demographics
Gorna Belica, along with Dolna Belica, is one of two traditional settlements located in the Drimkol region within Struga municipality which has historically been inhabited by an Aromanian and Albanian community. The Tosk dialect of the Albanian language was spoken in the village. Over time, Gorna Belica has become depopulated. Some Aromanians from Gorna Belica have resettled in the nearby village of Vevčani.

In statistics gathered by Vasil Kanchov in 1900, the village of Gorna Belica was inhabited by 850 Aromanians and 150 Muslim Albanians.

According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 1 inhabitants. Ethnic groups in the village include:


 * Macedonians 1

As of the 2021 census, Gorna Belica had 4 residents with the following ethnic composition:
 * Albanians 4

Notable people

 * Ștefan Mihăileanu (1859–1900), Aromanian professor and journalist