Florina Greece

Macedonia

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Florina. The region of Florina is located in Northern Greece in West Macedonia; it covers a surface area of 1924 square kilometres. Geographically, it consists of mountainous and semi mountainous areas and lowlands. The compact mountainous area of the northern-northwest section consists of the mountains of Varnoutas, Vernon and Voras. These contain the ski centre and European Alpine routes whose peaks reach out to the fertile valleys and the six lakes of Prespes. There are eight municipalities: Aetos, Amynteo, Klines, Melitis, Perasma, Prespes, Filota and Florina and four communities: Variko Kristalopigi, Lechovo and Nymfeo with a total population of 54.768 inhabitants. The capital of the departement of Florina is the city of Florina, built at a hill which is full with horse-chestnuts. Florina is located at about 3 hours by bus from Thessaloniki. Because of the fact that Florina is located northerly and at high hills, the climate is a lot cooler than for example Thessaly. One says that Florina is the most beautiful area of West Macedonia. The city is built near a river. There is a museum and a zoo. Don't forget to visit the Prespa lakes. At the village of Vigla you can even ski.

Places of interest in Macedonia (the 13 prefectures)

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

Why Florina?

• Florina is an emerging tourist destination actively promoting rural tourism
• has implemented innovative actions
• The whole prefecture has signed up to
• local Contract of quality, (e.g. the use of plastic chairs is not permitted in hotels and rented rooms, hotels and restaurants must use local produce for the preparation of meals etc)
• local network of tradition and folklore
• organizes annual seminars on the development of improved rural tourism procedures
• has a very rich cultural and historic heritage and many popular art exhibitions
• has many well preserved local customs and that events such as local feasts are organized on a regular basis
• has several cultural parks

Snow in Florina
Photo: An Veldema

• promotes a wide variety of local products (dishes, wines) and enhances local entrepreneurship and fosters female business partnerships and networks
• participates in programs concerning the development of rural tourism
• has a renown national park (Prespes)
• has international alpine routes
• has its own Ski centre
• has 6 lakes (some of them on the borders of Northern Greece)
• has the ability to organize adventures in nature, sports and rural activities for tourists
• has a nature reserve (for the protection of wild life such as bears, wolves)
• has traditional settlements and villages with excellent infrastructure
• participates in many international projects (e.g. promotion of wine and beans products, nest project on the development of a standard for sustainable development in Interreg projects, participates in LEADER Programs and some areas are part of NATURA 2000)
• is a member of the ‘euro-villages’ programme