Sidirokastro Hamam, monastery & medieval town, Serres | best of Greece
Sidirokastro is a town in Serres, Greece. It is built near the fertile valley of the river Strymonas. It is situated on the European route E79 and the main road from northern Greece (Thessaloniki) to Bulgaria. It has interesting sights, such as the medieval stone castle, Byzantine ruins, natural spas and beautiful nature: such as the ruins of the Byzantine castle, the Agios Dimitrios church that is carved in rock, and the quaint bridges over the Krousovitis River.
The Issari Fort, built by Emperor Basil II. The town owes its name to this fort: Sidirokastro means iron castle in Greek.
The wetland habitat of the artificial Lake Kerkini, created by a dam on the Strymon River. This singular habitat, protected by the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands, is Greece's natural frontier with Bulgaria. It is one of the richest fowl habitats in Greece: home to more than 300 species.
The Sidirokastro Hot Springs have a temperature of 45°. They are just outside the town to the north, near the Strymon River railway-bridge, on a hill that offers panoramic views of the area. Thousands of people go to these hot springs every year, both for recreation or therapy, especially since the recent renovation of the area's tourist facilities.
The main feature of the Sidirokastro area is the extensive geothermal field. Hot events are mainly found in the margins of the basin along cracked bands with temperatures reaching 65 degrees Celsius.
The geothermal field of Thermopigi-Sidirokastro is located 8 km north-west of the town of Sidirokastro, along the Thermopigi settlement, which, apart from the large amounts of heat it yields, has healing properties.
The source is super alkaline and alkaline earth oxycarbonate (Na-Ca-K-HCO3F) with alkaline metallic alkaline, up to 43.7 degrees Celsius.
Thermal thermal waters are proposed as a remedy for treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis, deforming arthritis, discopathy, sciatica, mytitis, myalgia, tendinitis, back pain, old fractures, cervical syndrome and certain gynecological diseases.
There are more hot springs in Thermes and in Angistro.
Roupel Fort, which was a stronghold against the German-Bulgarian army in World War II.
Sidirokastro (Eisenburg) ist eine Kleinstadt im Regionalbezirk Serres. Sidirokastro wurde 1946 zur Stadtgemeinde (dimos) erhoben und bis 1997 durch Eingemeindungen stetig vergrößert; mit der Verwaltungsreform 2010 ging sie in der neu gegründeten Gemeinde Sindiki auf, wo sie seither einen Gemeindebezirk bildet. Sidirokastro ist zudem Gemeindesitz.
Το Σιδηρόκαστρο είναι πεδινή πόλη και βρίσκεται 26 χλμ. ΒΔ. της πόλης των Σερρών. Αποτελεί έδρα του Δήμου Σιντικής και είναι ο τελευταίος δήμος της Ελλάδας στην έξοδο της χώρας προς τη Βουλγαρία.
Στην κωμόπολη υπάρχουν μνημεία όπως το βυζαντινό κάστρο, λαξευτοί μακεδονικοί τάφοι, ρωμαϊκός οικισμός και διατηρητέα αρχοντικά.
Πάνω από την πόλη του Σιδηροκάστρου, που βρίσκεται ο Ναός της Αγίας Ζώνης, είναι κτισμένη Ιερά Μονή αφιερωμένη στους Αγίους Κήρυκο και Ιουλίττα, οι οποίοι κατάγονταν και μαρτύρησαν στο Ικόνιο της Μικρας Ασίας και τιμώνται στις 15 Ιουλίου. Η μονή ιδρύθηκε το 1967 από τον Μητροπολίτη Σιδηροκάστρου Ιωάννη. Λειτουργεί επίσης ξενώνας για τη φιλοξενία προσκυνητών. Περίοπτη θέση στο μοναστηριακό συγκρότημα κατέχει το Μοναστικό Κέντρο Διακονίας, το οποίο κτίστηκε με δωρεά του ιδρύματος Νιάρχου ως φιλανθρωπικό κέντρο.
Τα Λουτρά Σιδηροκάστρου με νερό 45˚C, λίγο βορειότερα από το Σιδηρόκαστρο και κοντά στην σιδηροδρομική γέφυρα του Στρυμόνα.
Sidirokastro es una ciudad y un ex municipio de la Unidad periférica de Serres, Grecia. Es la sede del municipio de Sintiki y está construida cerca del fértil valle del río Estrimón, a orillas del río Krousovitis. Sidirokastro está situada en la ruta europea E79 y el camino principal desde el norte de Grecia (Tesalónica) hacia Bulgaria. Tiene varios puntos de interés, como el castillo de piedras medieval, ruinas bizantinas, balnearios naturales y bellezas naturales.
Sidirókastro est une ville et une municipalité du Nome de Serrès en Macédoine-Centrale en Grèce, dans la vallée du Strymon. La ville est à 25 km de Serrès. La région possède des gisements de marbre, lignite, cuivre, fer. On y trouve aussi des sources thermales.
La population est un mélange des descendants des habitants anciens et des réfugiés d'Asie mineure lors de la « Grande Catastrophe ».
Вало̀вища , също Демир Хисар, е град в Гърция, в област Централна Македония, център на дем Синтика, както и на Валовищката епархия.
#thermalspa #monastery #greece
Best Greece hotels 2019: YOUR Top 20 hotels in Greece
The 20 Best Greece Hotels - Where To Stay in Greece 2019
1. AD Athens Luxury Rooms & Suites
Address: Athanasiou Diakou 4 Makrygianni, Athens, 11742, Greece
2. Kubic Athens Smart Hotel
Address: 26 Agiou Konstantinou, Athens, 10437, Greece
3. Ibis Styles Heraklion Central
Address: Koroneou 26 & Agiou Titou, Heraklio Town, 71202, Greece
4. Hotel Lozenge
Address: 6 Valaoritou Kolonaki, Athens, 10671, Greece
5. Colors Urban Hotel
Address: Tsimiski 13, Thessaloniki, 54624, Greece
6. Blue Bottle Boutique Hotel
Address: Episkopou Amvrosiou 16 & Sygrou, Thessaloniki, 54630, Greece
7. Electra Metropolis
Address: Mitropoleos 15, Athens, 10557, Greece
8. Coco-Mat Hotel Athens
Address: 36 Patriarchou Ioakim, Athens, 10675, Greece
9. InnAthens
Address: Georgiou Sourri 3 & Filellinon, Syntagma, Athens, 10557, Greece
10. Piraeus Port Hotel
Address: Evaggelistrias 12, Piraeus, 18531, Greece
11. Nidimos Hotel
Address: Dimou Fragkou 10, Delfoi, 33054, Greece
12. 360 Degrees
Address: Monastiraki Square, Athens, 10555, Greece
13. Antonia Hotel
Address: Fira, Fira, 84700, Greece
14. Grand Forest Metsovo
Address: Egnatia Motorway - Intersection 7A to Anilio, Metsovo, 44200, Greece
15. Royal Sun
Address: G. Paizi 36, Chania Town, 73133, Greece
16. Maison Hotel
Address: 1st Km Chalkidona-Partheniou, Halkidona, 57007, Greece
17. Agnantio Hotel & Spa
Address: Sidirokastro, Sidhirokastron, 62300, Greece
18. Royal Hotel Thessaloniki
Address: 17th klm Thessalonikis - Peraias, Airport, Perea, 57500, Greece
19. Poseidon Hotel Suites
Address: Vida, Mykonos City, 84600, Greece
20. Coco-Mat Hotel Nafsika
Address: Pellis 6, Kifisia, Kifissia, Athens, 14561, Greece
Visit Macedonia - Serres (Eden).
Visit Macedonia Travel in Greece - Prefecture of Serres (Eden).
Stretching from the Strymonikos bay to the Bulgarian boarder, The Prefecture of Serres, is Greece's treasured possession. Today, both the Strymon River and Lake Kerkini constitute invaluable wetlands of great ecotourist and ecological interest. In other locations in the area such as Agistro and Sidirokastro, you can take advantage of the medicinal water springs that the locals believe have been offered to them by the ancient gods.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Macedonia today is a geographical region of Greece, and the largest of the Greek territory.
It constitutes most of the geographic and historical region of ancient Macedon, a Greek kingdom ruled by the Argeads whose most celebrated members were Alexander the Great and his father Philip II.
In 336 B.C., Alexander the Great became the leader of the Greek kingdom of Macedonia. By the time he died 13 years later, Alexander had built an empire that stretched from Greece all the way to India. That brief but thorough empire-building campaign changed the world: It spread Greek ideas and culture from the Eastern Mediterranean to Asia. Historians call this era the Hellenistic period.
The name Macedonia was later applied to identify various administrative areas in the Roman and Byzantine Empires with widely differing borders.
Touring Greece
Caleb Davis Heads to Lesvos, Greece and explores the beautiful island. CD Productions gives you the inside look, stay tuned for further videos.
Neda natural park & waterfalls, Elis - Peloponnese | Greece, land of Myths
The Neda (Greek: Νέδα) is a river in the western Peloponnese in Greece. It is unique in the sense that it is the only river in Greece with a feminine name. It flows to the west through a varied landscape of barren rock and forests, forming the border of Messenia and Elis ancient regions.
The canyon of Neda is accessible during the summer months and is a truly magical journey for all nature lovers.
The hiking can start from two spots, either from Elis near Figalia and Epicurean Apollo or Messinia near the villages Sidirokastro and Avlona. The ride is magical as framed by olive trees, fig trees, wild oak trees and kermes oak. For the adventurous ones, there is a great route which requires walking and swimming in the waters of the river.
For the less-fit there is a smaller hiking path. Both get through the two small waterfalls of Neda and end on the third big waterfall which forms a beautiful natural laggon. Whichever route you have chosen, a dip in the icy waters of the laggon under the big waterfall, is a unique pleasure after the fatigue of the hiking.
When you reach the large waterfall of Neda it can only be compared to paradise!
What to know for Neda Waterfalls & Neda River?
It is a 3.30-4 hour trip by car from Athens, so you may want to do this a 2day trip, or include it in your itinerary for South Peloponnese.
The gorge that hosts the river of Neda is located in Peloponnese at the borders of Ilia and Messinia Prefectures. The river comes down from the Mountain Liceo and flows into the Ionian sea between Kiparissia and Zaharo. Both these areas are famous for their beaches. The length of Neda river is 32km.
The river is booming with luscious plantation and big parts of it are under shade due to the gorge walls. The biggest of the waterfalls we visited (near Figaleia) is 50mt tall.
Many practice their canyoneering skills here too.
Neda and Gates of Hades?
The river was named after a nymph called Neda. Near this place you can also visit the Temple of Epicure Apollo Vassae.
Neda was a water deity, a nymph, which was entrusted to take care of Zeus, by Rhea in order to save him from being devoured by Cronus.
Did you know that one of the Gates to Hell was in Neda?
Gorge Walking: Neda River and Neda Waterfalls
We got up early to meet the group from Active Sundays that would take us there. It would be a single day trip and as such we prefer not to drive ourselves back and forth. Especially when difficult hiking/trekking takes place.
The Peloponnese is the stuff of legends. Literally. It is here that Hercules fought the Nemean lion and gods walked the earth, meddling in mortal affairs; it's from here that Paris of Troy eloped with Helen and the Argonauts set sail in search of the Golden Fleece. Celestial and mythological charms aside, this region bears tangible traces of the many civilisations that once called it home, witnessed in its classical temples, Mycenaean palaces, Byzantine cities, and Ottoman, Frankish and Venetian fortresses.
The very topography that kept invaders at bay for centuries – lofty, snowcapped mountains, vast gorges, plus sandy beaches and azure waters – now draws visitors of a different kind. Filoxenia (hospitality) is as strong here as anywhere in the country; the food is among Greece's best; and the region's vineyards are contributing to Greece's wine renaissance. Locals claim to have the best of everything to give. And that’s no myth.
Peloponnese with its gulfs in Korinthos, Patras, Saronic, Messinia, Argolida and Laconia looks like a plane tree leaf and that is why it was formerly called Morias. It has dry climate on the east, cold, snow and rich vegetation in its central and mountainous parts and rain and heat on the west.
It combines the mountain with the sea and boasts beautiful vacation towns, sandy beaches, blue waters and pine trees which stretch down to the sea. These are elements which compose a unique landscape for vacations, sun and swimming, while the most significant archaeological sites (Olympia, Ilis, Temple of Epicurios Apollo) entice tourists from all over the world.
The ancient city of Ilis superintended the Olympic Games and was the region’s centre in antiquity. Following the occupation by the Franks (1210) Ilia became the centre of the Morea Principate and reached its peak.
#peloponnese #nedawaterfalls #greece
Alonissos, Steni Vala (VR-360)
Steni Vala is a fishing village in the south-eastern part of the island, about 10km from Patitiri. The road leading to the village goes through thick pine forests and olive groves with stunning view over the creeks of the south-eastern coast. Enjoy the panoramic view over the sea and the neighbouring uninhabited islands walking your way down to the beach.
Η Στενή Βάλα είναι ψαροχώρι που βρίσκεται στην νοτιοανατολική πλευρά της Αλοννήσου, περίπου 10 χλμ από το Πατητήρι. Η διαδρομή για το χωριουδάκι αυτό περνάει μέσα από πυκνά πευκοδάση και ελαιώνες και οδηγεί από ψηλά στην καταπληκτική θέα των ορμίσκων της νοτιοανατολικής ακτής. Κατηφορίζοντας προς τη θάλασσα από ένα φιδωτό δρόμο η θέα της θάλασσας και των ακατοίκητων νησιών απέναντι είναι πανοραμική.
#visitalonissos #alonissos #alonissosisland #sporades #visitgreece #visitsporades #grecia #greekislands #greece #dive #weddings #honeymoon #gastronomy #villages #paths #diving #hiking #ecology #marinepark #kayaking #beaches #marinepark #greek #alonissosbeach #stenivala