Drama Greece

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Drama. The Prefecture of Drama lies in the north-eastern part of the Region of Eastern Macedonia Thrace. Its northern borders are part of the national border with Bulgaria while to the east lies the Prefecture of Xanthi, to the south the Prefecture of Kavala and to the west the Prefecture of Serres. In administrative terms it is part of the East Macedonia - Thrace Region and is divided into eight municipalities, those of Drama, Nevrokopi, Prosotsani, Nikiforos, Paranesti, Doxato, Kalambakio and Sitagri and one community, Sideronero. With the river Nestos flowing through it, it is surrounded by mountains with Rhodopi to the north, Menikio and Orvilos to the west, Pangeo to the south and the Lekani mountains to the east. In terms of natural environment, ecological interest and cultural routes it can be characterized as a truly remarkable prefecture.

Places of interest in Macedonia (the 13 prefectures)

Thessaloniki, Halkidiki (Chalkidiki), Kavala, Drama, Serres, Kilkis, Pella, Imathia, Pieria, Florina, Kozani, Grevena and Kastoria.

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Hotel Tasko
Drama
Macedonia
Greece

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Hotel Kouros

The first traces of human presence have been dated to more than 30,000 years ago in the cave of the river Angitis. In the wider area of Drama Neolithic settlements with organized life have been identified. The historical period saw Thracian tribes settle in the prefecture who in the end where subjected to Philippos, king of the Macedonians at the end of the classical period, while the area later became part of the roman colony Colonia Augusta Iulia Philippensis.

During the long, turbulent Byzantine period the area experienced successive waves of invasions. In 1383 following the fate of the other cities in the wider area it fell into Ottoman hands and was liberated during the Balkan Wars on 1st July 1913. The economy of the prefecture is based on agriculture, livestock farming and forest products as well as the dynamic marble production sector. Of particular interest is the cultural physiognomy of the area with its wealth of local events such as the events held during the 12 days of Christmas and the Epiphany, popular traditional festivals, the international short film festival and the art and literature events and many exhibitions held there by artists from the countries of the Emou peninsula.

The city of Drama with around 40,000 residents is one of the most remarkable tourist cities of northern Greece. The St. Barbara springs surrounded by parks and leisure areas as well as the water mills, shopping centers, Byzantine monuments, mansions and imposing complexes of tobacco warehouses, examples of the golden age of tobacco once experienced by the city, and the archaeological and ecclesiastical museums are just some of the interesting sights to see. The possibilities on offer for all forms of entertainment and relaxation in the city are of equal importance.

Drama Greece

Korylovos hill, to the north of the city, rising to same 600m, is ideal for a wonderful 4 km walk through the forest and for the breathtaking view over the city and the Plain of Drama. The Prefecture of Drama is ideal for following a wealth of cultural routes on which one can come across Byzantine and post-Byzantine monasteries and churches, archaeological sites, local museums, folk water ecosystems of the prefecture are the ideal opportunity for rambling among the forest and the monuments of nature in the area such as caves and gorges. The many tributaries and streams which flow through Greek territory and spill into the Nestos have allowed the Nestos to be exploited by the construction of major dams, which apart from generating electricity also contribute to irrigation and tourism in the area (The Thisavros and Platanovrysi Hydro-electrical Dams).

Another water resource is the river Angitis whose springs, at an altitude of 123 m, bubble forth from a cave of which first 4.5km only have been explored. Only the first 500m are open to the public. The prefecture's vegetation is rich in species noted for their rarity or in certain cases their uniqueness to Greece. At the forest village of Elatia (72km from Drama) there is a spruce forest, unique in all of Greece, while at the location known as Magoula in the same area, there is a unique birch forest. Overall the number of different plant species that a visitor to the prefecture could encounter exceeds one thousand. Equally rich is the prefecture's fauna particularly so in the northern section of the prefecture where most of the wild fauna species living on Greek mountains can be found such as bears, deer, roe deer and wild goats.

The Falakro Ski Centre, the springs and the cave of the Angitis river, the forest at Elatia and the virgin forest of Frakto, the lakes on the river Nestos and the Lefkogeia lakes are only same of the natural routes available to the visitor. The main events connected with the history and culture of the area are local events - masquerades held during the 12 days of Christmas in the villages of Monastiraki, Xiropotamos, Petrousa, Pyrgi, Volakas and Kali Vrysi between 6th 8th January, the animal slaughters (kourbani) held in Kalambaki on 18th January, the Horisti Carnival held on the Greek version of Ash Wednesday, Kathara Deftera, and the anniversary of the battle of Lise at Ochyro on 6th April, the Doxato horse races on 2nd May, the "Anastenaria" on 21st May in Mavrolefki, in other words fire walking, the freedom of the Municipality of Drama celebrations held at the end of June, the Sarakatsan tribes annual meeting held in the Elatia forest village on 20th July, the Akritia celebrations held in Kato Nevrokopi from 25th - 27th July, the short film festival held in September and the Potato Festival held in Kato Nevrokopi in mid-Autumn.

Drama

Source & photo's: Hellenic Tourism Organisation & Prefecture of Drama