Velestovo is a rural village about 5 km from Ohrid , in the mountains of the Galicica national park, overlooking Lake Ohrid. The road to Velestovo starts near the petrol station on the roundaboud on Bulevard Turistica in Ohrid, just before you leave Ohrid via the road to St Naum. There are good panoramic views of Ohrid from Velestovo.
St Presvata Bogorodica
There is an interesting church in Velestovo, the Church St Presveta Bogorodica Precista, or St Most Holy Mother of God Most Pure. The church is located on the local graveyard. Actually, it is a church inside a church. The church on the outside was build to protect the much older church on the inside. The church on the inside has a remarkably low door. Watch your head!
The church inside contains some old frescoes, painted in 1444 and 1451.
You will find the church most likely locked. But a family living along the dirt road left of the central water fountain has the key. You can ask in the village for the key (key of the church = klucot od crkvata, pronounced “klutsjot od serkvata”). It is a good habit to leave some denars in the church, or buy some candles.
Hiking trails
The Galicica National Park office can be found along the road from Ohrid to Velestovo. Velestovo is a good starting point for hikes into Galicica National Park, such as:
Velestovo: Leko trail in Galicica National Park (13 km)
Velestovo-Konjsko-Elshani-Peshtani through Galicica National Park (14 km)
Velestovo: Tri Mazi peak in Galicica National Park (12 km)
My Macedonia Blog 