Thessaloniki_EN

94
DAY EXCURSIONS
5.2 Lake Koroneia.
It is also known as Lake
Agios Vasileios or Lagada. It
used to cover a 4,600-hectare
area in the 1970s with a
depth measurement of up to
8 m. Today however, the body
of water and its depth depend
on climate conditions, due to
the intensive exploitation of
the area’s water resources.
5.3 Nea [New] Apollonia.
The small village on the
south side of Lake Volvi (56
km NE of Thessaloniki) is a
historic area, as an important
Macedonian town used to
exist here in the 5 th c. BC.
The area’s mineral springs
contain hydrogen sulphide, the
temperature measures 49 ο -
50 ο C and waters flow into Lake
Volvi. They are recommended
for the treatment of many
types of neuropathy,
rheumatism, arthritis, skin
and gynaecological complaints.
There are hotels, a modern
waterspa facility and a
comprehensive health centre.
In nearby Apollonia, you
will find the Info Centre for
the Koroneia-Volvi Wetlands,
housing a small exhibition
on the lake habitat and the
species living there.
5.4 Lake Volvi.
It is the second – in terms
of size – natural lake in Greece
(39 km E of Thessaloniki),
with a 6,800-hectare area
and a depth measument of
up to 20 m.; this wetland is
of great importance and a
Ramsar site. Near Apollonia
there is a location suitable
for birdwatching. In the
greater area (Apollonia and
Nea Madytos) you will find
a water sports club and you
can practice rowing, sailing,
canoe-kayaking and waterskiing.
Volvi village is a tourist
attraction located on the north
side of the lake, and comprises
the smaller communities
of Megali Volvi, Mikri Volvi
and Rentina.
5.5 Rentina.
Richios River crosses the
area and the riverside forest
is a place of particular natural
beauty, teeming with flora and
fauna. The ruins of a Byzantine
community and a castle can
be seen on an elevation.
5.6 Asprovalta – Nea
Vrasna – Stavros.
These growing tourist areas
stretch along the beautiful
beaches on the Strymonian
gulf. You will find a marine
sports and a beach volleyball
facility on Asprovalta beach
(10 km long and awarded a
Blue Flag) and on Nea Vrasna
beach; Stavros is the biggest
harbour in the gulf. Vrasna
and Ano Stavros villages
are situated at the foot of
Mt Kerdylia; their traditional
architecture makes them
absolutely worth visiting.
How to get there. From
Thessaloniki, take the 83,
83M or 83N bus line to reach
Lagkadas. For the other areas,
travel by coach. If you go
by car, head for Panorama,
Chortiatis and Agios Vasileios
(to reach Lake Koroneia)
and from that point go east
towards Kavala (to visit Lake
Volvi and the Strymonian gulf).
6 PIKROLIMNI
It is located in the
neighbouring Kilkis regional
unit, to the south. It is a
shallow lake (covering a
450-hectare area) and in
the lake floor mud there are
chemical combinations such
as sulphides and nitric salts
with healing and cosmetic
properties known across the
country - the concentration
is three times higher than
that in the Dead Sea. In the
neighbouring Xylokeratia
village you can visit the first
Mud-therapy (Spa) Centre
in the Balkans. There are
swimming pools for men
and women, 10 personal
hydromassage areas where
mineral spring water is used,
saunas, a gym and areas
for mud treatment. In the
summer, visitors can enjoy
a special mud therapy by
the lake shore which gets
usually dried up during the
warmest season of the year.
In the grounds you will find
a physiotherapy centre and
a medical clinic, a hotel, a
restaurant, a bar, basketball
and football fields.
How to get there.
Pikrolimni is located 23
km N of Thessaloniki. If
you travel by car, follow the
signs to Kilkis and after that,
from Galliko village head
for Xylokeratia (Pikrolimni).
Alternatively there is a bus
from Dimokratias square
(Vardari) leaving daily at 9 am,
which will take you to the Mud
Therapy Centre for free.
DAY EXCURSIONS
95
112 113 114
112.
Stavros beach.
113.
View of Lake
Volvi from
Nea Apollonia
Thermal
Springs (Spa).
114.
Picturesque
country chapel
in green Stena
Redinas.