Близки дестинации

Dense forests, endless beaches, traditional villages, myths, history, beauty. These are only a few of the words that can describe the area. Myths and gold share equally the reputation of Paggaio. “Chrysophore Paggaio”: two words that have become one.

With countless cauldrons and wineries, always hospitable. With beeches that make a colorful backdrop on dreamy trekking routes, with chestnuts that are being celebrated and burning the impatient fingers and mushrooms that grow at the edge of the road, beside the stacked woods which are ready for the fireplace. With a view that takes your breath away. Kavala and Thassos right οn your feet, the peninsula of Athos at the edge of your palm, Samothraki and Limnos sometimes, like a shaded reminder in the horizon.

With ancient sanctuaries, Byzantine castles, rock paintings of ancient times. All overlaid signs within the dense vegetation or on the steep slopes that are waiting to be explored.

Fifteen kilometers west of Kavala, the ruins of the ancient city of Philippi are preserved. The original name of the city was Krinides, from the Thassian settlers who founded it, and it was renamed Philippi by Alexander the Great’s father, Philip II. It acquired particular importance after 42 BC after its conquest by the Romans, due to the Egnatia road and the gold mines of the area. The city is a landmark for Christianity, as Apostle Paul founded there the first Christian church in Europe in 50 AD. Today, there are still excavations in the area, which in the past have revealed parts of the market, palaces, walls, etc., with the most important being the ancient theater which still works today during the homonymous Festival during the summer months. You can also visit the museum, which includes findings of all historical periods in the area. The entrance fee costs 4.00 € for adults, 2.00 € for retired and non-EU students. The entrance is free for students and retired from EU countries .

The mud sanatorium or mud bath of Krinides, as the locals call it, is not a place to visit for its natural beauty but to do something unusual and good for his health.

In the past, geological, ecological, biological, chemical conditions and complex physical mechanisms have been beneficial as they have created the proper environment from which natural healing clay has been naturally prepared and matured.

Clay therapy is based on the use of so-called mature “clay”. The application of the clay may be total or partial, by immersing the body in it or by spreading it. The effect of clay treatment is mainly due to three factors: mechanical, thermal and chemical.

On the road of Serres-Kavala, at the boundary of the county on the northern side of the verdant mountain Paggaio, in a magnificent location, at an altitude of 753 meters, lies the Monastery of Panagia Ikosifinissa. The oldest active monastery in Greece and in Europe, but also a true retreat, attracts a multitude of believers to worship the imagery of Theotokos. The Monastery, loaded with centuries of history, struggles, disasters, has made a major contribution to the preservation of the inalienableness of the Greek soul by the various conquerors. Sacked and destroyed repeatedly, it was rebuilt in 1965. The 25 monks of the Monastery keep an exemplary class and honor the hospitality.

The cave of Aggitis springs is the largest river cave in the world (21 km long) and is located in Prossotsani, in the county of Drama. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the river Aggitis flows through it. Its rich decoration includes enormous stalactites. The cave is open for visit for a length of 500 meters, while it extends over 21 kilometers in length. Another impressive thing about the cave is the exit of the river through the mountain. In the underground river of the cave end up, among others, the waters of Lekanopedio. The cave belongs to the cave network of the gorge of Aggitis river along with four other famous caves, including the famous Alistratis Cave.

Several archaeological findings have been discovered in the area, like a tusk of mammoth, which are all kept in the archaeological museum of Drama. In the cave has also been found unique kinds of fish, such as the “Barbus plebejus” and the “Leucipus cephalus macedonicus” at a depth of 6,500 meters, as well as a unique kind of translucent stone crayfish at a depth of 7,100 meters from the surface of the cave.

Nestos river tempts you to follow it by any means and get in direct contact with green forests, picturesque small villages of older times, nature drowned paths, forest villages and protected wetlands.

A water course of rare beauty and full of nature that gives to the unprepared traveler unique moments and experiences. Unprepared because he did not realize that following the flow of the river either by car or by rail would come in contact with the magic of nature in its most “pure” form. In short, in the case of Nestos, the journey and not the destination is important.