Vitolište – A visit to a village lost in time

posted in: Balkans

In 2008, the number of people living in towns and cities exceeded half of the world population. Urbanization process occurs all over the world, creating mega cities and leaving ghost villages behind. Mariovo region in southern Macedonia is a charming mountainous area, where the effect of urbanization is immense. Picturesque villages are decaying, with only a handful of loyal inhabitants maintaining their life. Vitolište used to be one of the biggest villages in the region. When I entered the village in autumn 2012, I felt uncomfortable. But I was lucky to meet Vane. Vane grew up in the village but left it together with his parents years ago. They came to visit and I got a chance to get a guided tour.

 

Still Photos

 

A good paved road leads into Mariovo region from the area of Prilep up to Vitolište. I met no other cars while driving along this road for about an hour.

A deserted post office is an eerie welcome,

but then a surprising smile – the village is not completely empty

further inside, Vane’s father is standing on the yard entrance

Vane joins and they both invite me in.

where I meet his mother

Vane is preparing breakfast from ingredients they brought from town and hazelnuts he found in the village

while I’m admiring Tito’s photo, who at that time was more important than family members

Vane then takes me to a heart breaking tour in the village

where empty dilapidated beautiful stone houses leave little space to remaining life

a donkey here

some vegetables there

lively bee hives

and a meeting with one of the few dozen people who still cling to peaceful rural life

Tobacco is a main crop in this area, and while Prilep streets are decorated with tobacco leaves, here in the village they are a rare sight

This is what used to be the lively main village square

A short walk to the village edge takes us to the old deserted school which was called after a local writer

and now serves as a cow shed

we pass near another deserted building before we head to a concluding view of the village

The contrast between Vane’s descriptions of happy childhood in a lively village and the gloomy present was striking.
Vitolište is only one village among many others that face such a destiny. While massive urbanization process is now a fact, societies must find ways to balance population density, and bring life back to rural areas, which are literally the bread and butter of human existence on earth and a fundamental cultural asset.  Whether by subsidies as done in central Europe, developing new local sources of income such as tourism, or encouraging city dwellers who can work from home to settle down in such vast inspiring areas.

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