The name and region of Macedonia - the second largest prefecture in all of Greece - conjures up many conflicting feelings and images. For one, Central Macedonia is the birthplace of Alexander the Great, King of Macedon and the world's most successful military commander who conquered most of the then known world. With an ancestor sporting those sorts of credentials, Greek Macedonians are fiercely proud of their land. Which leads to the ongoing battle over ownership of the name "Macedonia" between Greeks and other Macedonians who live outside of the region in what was formerly known as Yugoslavia.
But putting this political battle aside, the Macedonian region in Greece is one of the most ancient and provocative, with a history that goes back much further than the 4000 years of the parties on both side of the battler, after all, in Halkidiki prehistoric remains of one the earliest inhabitants of the region are dated to 700,000 years ago, or the 6000-year-old Nea Nikomidian clay idols and the 4000-year-old clay hands found in the area of Drama. This is a most ancient region and absolutely evocative to see.
Everything you do in Central Macedonia and everywhere you go is overshadowed by the imposing presence of the legend of Alexander the Great. Here the flag with his stamp - the Vergina Star - is everywhere almost eclipsing the Greek flag. But there are other greats who add to the imposing presence of age-old history here, for the great philosopher Aristotle was born here and Apostle Paul visited here on his third missionary journey. Many great dynasties ruled here, too, such as the Argead Dynasty, Antipatrid Dynasty and the Antigonid Dynasty
And yet, there is more in Central Macedonia. It is right here where you will find Mount Olympus, with peaks reaching the tallest heights in all of Greece. It is here where you will find the lakes of Prespa, with bird sanctuaries that are amongst the most important in all of Europe. And it is here where you will find Thessaloniki, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in all of Greece, rich with long traditions, a buzzing night-life, cultural treats both ancient and contemporary, and stunning Byzantine and post-Byzantine architecture. And it is in Central Greece where you will find the Halkidiki Peninsula with its three fingers - of Kassandra, Sithonia and Mount Athos - dipping into the Aegean Sea full of summer resorts and spiritual monastic beauty.
The best thing for tourists, especially first time visitors to the region of Central Greece, is that it is very well organised and offers many facilities for tourists, making it a good choice all year round. There are numerous options for accommodation and excursions to historical sites or adventures amongst the natural landscape of the region.
Thessaloniki is actually a gourmet culinary treat with a wide choice of folkloric and traditional tavernas and ouzeris - such as Agora and Bit-Pazar - to the best in haute cuisine and foreign and international restaurants. There are stores that specialises in sweets from Asia Minor and others that specialise in making trigona or pastry triangles filled with cream. Some of the best places to explore are up near the Byzantine walls and down by the sea-front near the famous White Tower.
This region is has everything one could want, from one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Europe to some of the most remote and forgotten villages, the best beaches and some of the most diving natural environments. All in all, a definite must for anyone considering visiting a Greek region.
A Peek at the Historic Houses of Paignton Central Macedonia Dipping Into The Aegean Sea Full Of Summer Resorts And Spiritual Monastic Beauty Central Macedonia Dipping Into The Aegean Sea Full Of Summer Resorts And Spiritual Monastic Beauty
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