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Florina
Though bitterly cold in winter, this is still
a particularly beautiful part of Greece, rich in historical monuments and
archaeological sites. In the area around Florina, are the lakes including the
dramatic Prespa basin. Florina, is the capital spread out over a
hillside covered with wild chestnut trees.
Amindeo,
a modern market town, lies 41 kilometres from Florina, while 6
kilometres from there, on the shores of Lake Vegoritis, there
is the picturesque village of Agios Panteleimonas, where an
ancient settlement and cemetery have been excavated. Nimfeo
(53 km. from Florina), on the slopes of Mt. Vitsi (alt. 1.350
m.), is both a winter and summer resort, with delightful
houses built in the local style. Further up the mountain in
the village of Pissoderi (alt. 1.420 m.), where are Vigla ski
centre is located.
The part of
Florina that holds the greatest interest for visitors, whether
Greek of foreign, is its two lakes, which form the natural
borders of Greece with Albania and Yugoslavia. These
lakes, Mikri and Megali Prespa are situated 850 metres above
sea level and are separated by a narrow strip of land. The
shores of the smaller lake are filled with reeds that every
year provide shelter for many kinds of birds. Looking as
though it is floating in the middle of the lake is the islet
of Agios Ahilios, with both ancient and Byzantine ruins, its
rocky coast harbours caves once used as shrines, whose walls
are decorated with religious paintings. On the shores of
Megali Prespa, which may be either steep and rocky of flat and
lush, there is a delightful little village called Psarades,
which is very reminiscent of an Aegean hamlet with its
characteristic architecture. Here, as well as at Agios
Germanos, where there is a byzantine church dedicated to St.
Germanos with excellent frescoes, one will find tavernas
serving freshly caught fish from the lakes.
>> Macedonia :
Drama,
Florina,
Grevena,
Halkidiki,
Imathia,
Kastoria,
Kavala,
Kilkis,
Kozani,
Pella,
Pieria,
Serres,
Thassos Island,
Thessaloniki.
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