Greece - Ελλάδα - Griekenland

The most important church on Agios Achillios island (see: www.ipernity.com/doc/294067/47395972) was the Basilica of St. Achilles. The church was founded at the end of the 10th century by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria. Initially it was the cathedral of the empire of Samuel and later - until the middle of the 15th century - a bishop's church. In the basilica the mummified remains of Saint Achilles - a bishop from Larisa in Thessaly - were kept. These were brought to Agios Achillios after Tsar Samuel conquered Larisa in the 10th century. At the same time he commissioned craftsmen from Larisa to build the three-aisled basilica, which became the seat of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. The impressive church - (20 x 47 meters ) - was a cruciform basilica and among the ruins today one can see the famous sanctuary with three lobed windows, the pillars made of bricks and stones and a tomb on the south side. After the reoccupation of the area by the Byzantines in 1018, the church became dependent on the archdiocese of Ohrid. In 1072 it was plundered by foreign invaders, but it continued to function until at least the middle of the 15th century. Over the years the church was abandoned, deserted and finally became a ruin.

The Metropolitan church of Saint Charalambos (Agios Charalambos) was built between 1715 and 1717 - when Preveza was still under Ottoman occupation - on the location of an older church. It is built in the style of a single-space basilica, but the later interventions and additions have changed its initial shape. On the eastern side they have walled-in a Roman sarcophagus from Nicopolis, in order to be used as a fountain. On the south-eastern side of the church, a later dated tower-shaped bell tower has also been added. The painted decorations of the temple include great oil-paintings which cover the side walls and the wooden roof. These paintings are copies of religious works of art by great European artists. Of exceptional quality is the wooden-carved iconostasis of the church, which was constructed by a craftsman from Epirus in 1827 and was gold-plated in 1836. The pulpit, the archieratic throne and some of the portable icons are also of great artistic value. The church is located - a little bit hidden by the Venetian tower - at the pedestrian zone of the historical center of Preveza (PiP3).

The Monastery of Prousos (Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa = Virgin Mary of Prousos) is built in beautiful surroundings on a steep rock and above the deep canyon of the river Karpenisiotis . According to the tradition, it was founded in 829 by monks Dionysios and Timotheos, who brought with them the icon of Virgin Mary from Prousa in Asia Minor. However, it is more possible that the monastery was established between the 12th and 14th century. The monastery has a main building where Virgin Mary Prousiotissa is worshiped and a part where the cells of ther monks are located. A small museum is housed in the monastery with several exhibits such as icons dating back to the 15th and 16th century, sacred vestments, silver and golden chalices and handwritten codes and typography books. During the War of Independence against the Turks, it was a refuge for Greek rebels. In August 1944 German troops burnt down a large part of the monastery, destroying many relics, handscripts, books and items of everyday use. The monastery has been rebuilt several times.

The Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa (the Virgin Mary of Prousos) is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin and is one of the most important religious locations in Greece. According to tradition, the icon (PiP1) was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist in Prousa (nowadays Turkish Bursa) during the reign of the iconoclast emperor Theophilus. It was taken away from there to be saved from the burning of the icons the emperor had ordered. The icon was brought to Greece by a young man of noble origin, called Dionysios, but for an unknown reason the icon was lost when Dionysios arrived in Thrace. This holy site dates back to 829AD and is linked to the adventures and the appearance of the holy icon in a cave of this area. The monastery was founded at the exact place which the Virgin Mary chose in a miraculous way. The miraculous icon of Panagia Proutiotissa is now kept in a carved cave church, the first church of the monastery. The katholikon is a cross-shaped temple with a dome. It dates back to 1754 and is also decorated with murals. The icon was found on the 23rd of August which is also the date that the church celebrates. Monastery of Prousos is attracting many faithful each year, who come here to venerate the famous and miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary.

Neokastro (also called Niokastro or New Navarino) is a fortress built on a hill above the town of Pylos. It was built in 1573 by the Turks, who kept it under their control for more than a century. The construction of the fortification started immediately after the defeat of the Ottoman fleet in the Naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The Ottoman dominance was followed by Venetian rule (1686-1715). The final liberation came with the Greek War of Independence in 1821. Neokastro was built in order to guard and protect the southern entrance of the Bay of Navarino and defend the port and the region. The castle was highly developed and equipped compared to the old castle, intending to fully exploit the cannons, while simultaneously ensuring the greatest possible protection of the inner settlement and the fortification itself from hostile fires. The robust fortress is considered being one of the best preserved castles in Greece. An abundance of architectural elements and the buildings themselves that are enclosed in its walls. Among others it features structures added during Venetian rule, traces of the 1821 Greek War of Independence and reminders of its use as a prison during World War II. The church of the Transfiguration of Christ was constructed in the 16th century as a mosque, but served as a church both during Venetian rule of the city and then again since independence. The acropolis of the castle has six walled sides and ramparts, offering a magnificent panorama of the Navarino Bay. Nowadays the complex houses Pylos' impressive archaeological museum in the former General Maison barrack and interesting displays on underwater archaeology.

The Prodromou Monastery (Moni Timíou Prodrómou - Μονή Τιμίου Προδρόμου) is one of the most famous monasteries in the Peloponnese. The particularly picturesque and visually stunning monastery is situated on/against the eastern cliffs of the Lousios River Gorge with its stone buildings and ramshackle wooden balconies, seeming to hang from the overhanging cliffside. The three-storied east and south wings and the two-storied north wing contain cells, storerooms, and service areas. It is said to date back to the year of 1167, but reliable sources estimate the foundation somewhere in the 16th century. The monastery is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, who in the Orthodox tradition is usually called Pródromos (the Forerunner, meaning the one who came before Jesus). The monastery houses a literally hidden gem: a very small (2.25 x 4.90 m) domed, rock hewn church (PiP 3) with an iconostasis from the 16th century; frescoes were painted directly on the rock walls (PiP 4) outside the church. Due to its inaccessible location Moni Prodromou played a large role in the Greek War of Independence in 1821 as a medical and supply station for the Greek soldiers and as refuge for civilians. The original door is still intact and the bullet holes are indicative of the fighting that occurred in this area. The monastery still houses a monk community and during our visit we were welcomed by one of them with Greek coffee, water, bread and honey sweet loukoumia. It can be reached from the main road between Stemnitsa and Dimitsana through a 7 km long particularly steep, winding and narrow road and a 15 minutes walk.

Sagiada is a quiet coastal fishing village in the northwest of Thesprotia, close to the border with Albania. In its heyday Sagiada was one of the busiest ports of Epirus. Wealthy merchants lived in Old Sagiada, which was built on a hillside above the harbour. During the Turkish occupation Ali Pasha - an Ottoman Albanian ruler who served as pasha of Epirus and the western parts of Thessaly and Greek Macedonia - talked with Napoleon in Sagiada, trying to get assistance for his military campaigns. Old Sagiada was burnt down in 1943 by Albanian cohorts (known as Tsamides) of the Germans. The inhabitants fled to the coast and never came back to rebuild the village. The only building which was restored after the war by the villagers is the Agios Georgios church. It stands in the middle of the ruins on a kind of village square. The ruins covered with ivy are the only other reminders of the past nowadays. When we visited the ghost village a cow along the main road was the only living creature we encountered.

The Poulko Mansion (also called Poulkidis Mansion) is located in the Geraneia neighbourhood in Siatista. According to an inscription over the entrance, its construction began in 1752 and probably completed in 1759. The building was commissioned by Theódoros Emmanouilídis, an Ottoman-era merchant from the town, and later purchased by tobacco merchant Lázaros Poúlkos (or Poulkídis). The mansion consists of a semi-buried ground floor and two upper floors overlooking a courtyard that includes an oven, a cistern and a garden. The ground floor was used for storage. The first floor was used as the family's winter residence, with bedrooms featuring fireplaces and cupboards richly decorated with frescoes. The top floor had the same layout as the middle floor and was used as a summer residence. The Poulko Mansion - a precious example of upper middle class daily life in 18th century western Macedonia - shows excellent decorative painting, stained glass windows and wood carvings. The plaster decorations on the mansion’s fireplaces are of amazing artistry. Its facade, in the section just under the roof, is decorated with stylized ornamental motifs (rosettes, stars) and a ship. After a restoration the Poulko Mansion - a juwel of the small city of Siatista - is open to the public again

The Holy Church of Saint Paraskevi (Agia Paraskevi) is a great example of post-Byzantine architecture. The church was built in 1677, in the shape of a domed three-aisled basilica. The hexagonal bell tower with a height of 25 meters was added in 1862. The building - a most precious monument of Byzantine art - dominates the central square of Geraneia district, one of the two city quarters. The church is considered being the most impressive of the years of the Turkish occupation in western Macedonia. The interior shows exquisite icons, a gilded wood-carved iconostasis and a gold plated pulpit. The stone built church, with oak transoms and beams, small windows, in Basilica order, is full with frescoes and precious icons.

The Holy Temple of the Diocese of Tegea - dedicated to the Assumption of Mary - is located at one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The human presence was consistent, there are ancient findings, Hellenic, Roman and Byzantine. Remnants of a middle-ages castle have also survived. Essentially it is an enormous open archaeological site shaded by tall trees in a green park. The original Byzantine church must have been built in the 11th or 12th century. It was the cathedral of the medieval town of Niklio. The church seems to have been built above the ancient theatre of Tegea, with materials taken both from the theatre and other nearby buildings, such as the early-Christian churches and the medieval wall that used to stand there. After the decline of Tegea and its destructions by wars and earthquakes, the church remained in ruins until the 19th century. It was restored in the period 1884-1888 based on the study of the Austrian architect Ernst Ziller. Due to this restoration, the upper parts of the monument have been altered. The church was not signposted and it took some effort to find its location. Unfortunately it turned out to be closed and there was no one who could help us with a key. As a result we were unable to see (and photograph) the interior with the religious paintings.

The White Tower is the most well known monument of Thessaloniki and a famous landmark of the city. The tower, which once guarded the eastern end of the city's sea walls, was for many years attributed to Venice, to which the Byzantines ceded Thessaloniki in 1423. It is now known that the tower was constructed by the Ottomans sometime after their army captured Thessaloniki in 1430. The Tower was used by the Ottomans successively as a fortress, garrison and a prison. In 1826 here was a massacre of the rebellious prisoners. After that the tower acquired the name "Tower of Blood" or "Red Tower". When Thessaloniki became a part of Greece in 1912 the tower was whitewashed as a symbolic gesture of cleansing and it was named “White Tower”. The Tower has now a buff colour, but has retained its name. The tower is located on Thessaloniki's waterfront boulevard at the Thermaic Gulf. Nowadays it houses a museum dedicated to the history of Thessaloniki.

The Arch of Galerius - locally known as Kamara - is certainly one of the most important monuments in Thessaloniki. The arch was probably built by the city of Thessaloniki between 298 and 305 A.D. to commemorate Galerius’ victorious campaign against the Persians. Originally it was a triple arch and four main and four supporting pillars. The central arched opening was 9,7 meters wide and 12,5 meters high; the secondary openings on the other side were 4,8 meters wide and 6,5 meters high. Only parts of the masonry symbols of the arches and three of the eight pillars survived. The reliefs on the two pillars depict scenes from Galerius’ victories against the Persians in 297 A.D. Among others one can see scenes of war, mounted battles and victories, triumphs and ceremonies, separated by relief flowers and branches. The arch - standing right in the middle of the city along Egnatia Street - is one of the landmarks of Thessaloniki.

The church of Saint Demetrius is named and devoted after the patron saint of Thessaloniki: Saint Demetrius or Agios Dimitrios. It is by far the most important church of the city for religious, historical and artistic reasons. The first chapel on the current spot was constructed in the early 4th century AD, replacing a Roman bath. A century later this little chapel was replaced by a larger, three-aisled basilica. Repeatedly gutted by fires, the church eventually was reconstructed as a five-aisled basilica in 629–634; the form of the church much as it is today. During the Ottoman occupation of Thessaloniki the church was turned into a mosque. Frescoes were plastered, which were again revealed after the 1913 Greek reconquest of the city. Due to a great city fire in 1917 it took decades to restore the church. After restoration, the church was reconsecrated in 1949. Nowadays the cathedral is still a fine sample of Byzantine religious architecture. It is one of the largest – if not the largest - churches in Greece. Since 1988 the church is - with other Palaeochristian and Byzantine Monuments in Thessaloniki - on the list of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Vathia - or Vatheia - is a traditional village in the southernmost tip of the Mani peninsula on the Peloponnese. The village was built from the mid the 16th century, but only in the 18th and 19th century real economic prosperity has come. At that time the village had about 300 inhabitants, who were mainly farmers and the olive harvest was their main occupation. At the beginning of the 20th century the inhabitants left the village due to poverty and at the end of the eighties of the last century there were hardly any people living there. Nowadays Vathia - often called a ghost town - is almost completely uninhabited. It has about 90 typical tower houses with the typical architecture of the Mani; most of them are empty and partly dilapidated, but in the meantime some have been renovated. The tower houses in Vathia are built like fortresses with two or three floors. The people, at one time, fiercely guarded their land and livelihoods, either from foreign invaders or rival families. The fortress-like houses provided the ideal opportunity to keep a lookout in the case of a potential invasion. The head of each household was considered to be a ‘mini warlord’, who had the interests of the family at the center of his concerns. The fierceness of the people, the rugged terrain and the strategic location of the tower houses helped keep Mani (and Vathia) free from invaders and it even maintained its independence from the Ottoman Empire.. Vathia is built on a hill top in the middle of an impressive landscape with beautiful sea views. It is located halfway between Aeropoli and Cape Tenaro.

The plane tree in Tsagarada is one of the oldest trees in Europe. It is located in the square of Tsagarada in front of the Agia Paraskevi (PiP4). According to foresters, the tree is around 1000 years old. The circumference of the trunk measures over 15 meters. The crown of the plane tree is so large that it is difficult to measure it. Its perimeter may even be 40 meters. The branches are as thick as a tree trunk. The general condition of the tree is very good. However, the trunk has a cavity which is closed with a metal sheet. One of the branches is supported by a marble pillar. What might have not been taken into account for the age of the tree is that its roots start at about four meters under the paving of the square. Therefore, a large part of the trunk is “buried” for many years now at a depth of at least four meters.

The Old Metropolis/Cathedral of Veria (officially transliterated Veroia) is one of the largest mid-Byzantine in the Balkans, which was erected between 1070 and 1080 by Nikitas, the then bishop of the city. It is an architectural masterpiece of three aisled basilicas with a timber roof. This impressive church shows the prosperity of the town during the middle Byzantine period. The church was dedicated to Saint Paul. During the Ottoman period of the city it became an Ottoman mosque (Hünkar Mosque). The distinctive features that bring added uniqueness, specific architectural, artistic and historical value to the Old Cathedral is the incorporation of early Christian templates that gives the impression of a premier temple compared with the relevant monuments of the same period, as well as the wall painting decoration that presents some of the greatest painting works of the 12th, 13th and 14th century. For this reason it is regarded as the gem of Byzantine Veria. After the completion of the restoration works in 2016, the church is accessible to the public again, offering a unique tour of the Byzantine history of Veria.

The monastery of Timios Prodromos (Saint John the Baptist) is the most important of the monastic settlements ('sketai') in the area around Veria. The historic stone monastery has been operating since the 14th century. Known as the “Skete of Veria”, as the monastery was built in a Holy Skete that existed on the site since the 9th-10th century. The monastery was set on fire in 1822 by the Ottomans. The only structure that survived was the chapel of the Transfiguration of the Savior. In 1835 the monks rebuilt the cells, the new katholikon and a good part of the fortified wall; at this point the monastery assumed then the form it has today. Remains of several Saints are kept in the Monastery, while visitors can admire many works of hagiographic art, some of which have been saved from the period before the destruction of 1822. Its katholikon is also remarkable, in the type of the three-aisled basilica, with magnificent columns made of trunk trees and imposing images. Timios Prodromos is located at the verdant foothills of Pieria mountains, with an imposing view of the artificial lake of the Aliakmonas river; a fascinating landscape created by the river with the dense forests. The impressive entrance with the large, wooden medieval gates, the stone fountain, the relief of the buildings as they join the slope and the fresh air give visitors a warm welcome.

The Vikos Gorge is located in the mountainous area of Epirus and is part of the Vikos-Aoos National Park. It is an extremely spectacular gorge due to its steep walls, rising to a height of more than 1.200 meters in several places. In fact, it is the second deepest gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon in the USA. TheVoidomatis River crosses the Vikos Gorge and gives beautiful natural sceneries. Although the Vikos Gorge has been called the 'deepest' gorge on earth (since 1997 it has been listed by Guinness World Records as the deepest canyon), it is not entirely true, as a special measurement method has been used that excludes other deeper places. Does not take away from the fact that the gorge is a downright natural wonder. The gorge was created because the river Voidomatis was given millions of years to erode it. The gorge is named after the village of Vikos, where it ends. The starting point is about 600 meters after the mountain village of Monodendri. Its overall length exceeds 30km; its depth varies. In Monodendri it reaches 600 meters and is its the narrowest point and in Vikos village it reaches 1.200 meters. Vikos Gorge is nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Greece”.