Trips
MAKRI
Moving on to neighboring Makri you can visit the “Cyclops cave” and the prehistoric settlement, the brilliant Byzantine church of Agia Anastasia and the excavations of Byzantine churches. Make sure you visit the towers and the hammam, the taverns and the crystal beaches.
Be sure not to miss the flea market every Thursday and Saturday
FERES
Feres, the town that stands on the ruins of the Monastery of Panagia Kosmosoteira was founded by the Byzantine prince Isaac Komnenos. Today it is a unique destination for history lovers.
A place with excellent monuments, which still has a lot to reveal from the Byzantine period
DIDIMOTICHO/CASTLES/GALLERY
An attraction and symbol of the city is the Lighthouse, one of the highest in Greece. It was recognized as a cultural heritage monument, located on the city’s coastal road, Megalo Alexandrou. It was built in 1850 and began operating in 1880, built on the west side of the city’s port, to facilitate the coastal navigation of local sailors traveling to the Hellespont region.
SOUFLI
Known as the Silk City, Soufli was built in the 18th century and flourished through silk production until the 1980s. Today, very few silkworms are grown on the surrounding farms, but silk fabrics are produced from the local and imported thread into beautiful scarves, ties and shirts. The city’s shop windows overflow with colors, textures and silky sensations. The impressive “cocoon houses”, the buildings where silkworms are bred, are scattered throughout the city, giving a distinctive color to the architecture. Soufli is also famous for its wine, tsipouro and stewed/cooked meats.
DADIA’S FOERST
The Forest of Dadia is located in the Prefecture/county of Evros and has been a protected area since 1980. This area of Thrace has always been an important habitat for prey birds and today it is one of their last refuges in Europe. ThirtyA-six species of diurnal birds of prey (out of the thirty-eight which were counted in Europe) have been identified in the area.
This is the only European forest that is home to all four European vultures: Harpy, Black, White and Eagle Vultures. There is also a wide variety of landscape, flora and fauna. Between pine forests and oaks, valleys, fields, wide plains, a large number of animals can find a shelter. 219 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles and 36 species of mammals have been recorded in the protected area so far.
KOMOTINI
Nowadays Komotini is a thriving commercial and administrative center. In the heart of the city there is the Municipal Central Park and the 15-meter Heroes’ Monument, locally known as “The Sword”. The renewed Peace Square is the epicenter of a vibrant nightlife which is enjoyed by students who live there. In the old town there are traditional shops and workshops that do not exist in other Greek cities. In Komotini there are several museums, such as Archaeological, Byzantine and Folklore. There is a Regional Theater that present plays throughout the year. On the Northeast of Komotini there is the forest of Nymphaea with paths, fields, playgrounds and an area of environmental studies. There is a Byzantine fortress and the historical fortress of Nymphaea inside the forest.
XANTHI
The Prefecture /county of Xanthi includes the area of the Rhodope Mountains, with its pristine forest and rich flora and fauna,is surrounded by the Nestos River and other smaller rivers that flow into the Aegean Sea, the Thracian Sea and Lake Vistonida in the south of the area. It is an agricultural region which produces tobacco, cotton, grains and vegetables. The old town of Xanthi is typical of its traditional culture and also known as “the city of a thousand colors”. It is worth visiting during the carnival (February or March – dates change) and during the Xanthi festival (early September).
ORESTIADA – ARDAS RIVER
For centuries evros river was the border between East and West, North and South. Europe and Asia.