Rodopi prefecture – Komotini
Mishos waterfall
Rodopi prefecture – Komotini
Rodopi prefecture is characterised by its mountainous volumes at its northern side and the impetuous torrents that spring from there and end up to the southern side to the Aegean Sea, where are located the beautiful beaches.
The capital of the prefecture is Komotini that during Ottoman rule was called Goumourtzina. Nowadays is a modern city that combines harmoniously the European and Eastern element in architecture, tradition, culture and people.
The history of the city begins in the Post-Christian centuries with the establishment of a small settlement and the construction of a Byzantine fortress that gives the city the opportunity to be developed. Later during the Ottoman rule Komotini became the most important centre in the region developing the agriculture and the livestock-farming. It is finally incorporated in Greece in 1920 with the rest of Thrace.
Sights
- ruins of the Byzantine fortress
- the old city and market
- the Byzantine metropolitan temple of The Assumption of Virgin Mary
- Imaret, a building with historical and architectural value of the 14th century
- the old mansions
- the archaeological site of Maroneia. The excavations brought to light the city walls, the ancient theatre, the sanctuary of Dionyssos, a hellenistic house with mosaic flooring, two building complexes dated to the hellenistic season and other. The city of Maroneia is mentioned in Homer for the hospitality and the gifts that king Maronas gave to Odysseus when he was in the land of Kikonon. Relative with Odysseus is also the cave of Polifimos with stalactites.
- in the wider area of Maroneia are a lot of monuments from the early-Christian and Byzantine period, like the barrel-vaulted churches at the site called Parathyra, the atrium of an early Christian basilica of the 6th century A.D, with mosaic floors and a Byzantine monastery over the ruins of a Justinianian three-aisled basilica in Synaxis area, part of a bath installation dated to the period of Justinian A’, conch of a church decorated with a wall-painting of a foliate cross dated to the second phase of the Iconomachy, under a church of the 11/12th century, the fortification walls of the castle of Maroneia and others.
- near Fanari the ancient Dikaia
- the ancient Greek Strimi
- a Macedonian tomb in Symbola
- Mountain Papikio is offered for climbing, with access from the village Sostis, and was a center of monasticism for Byzantine emperors.
- the archaeological site of Anastasioupolis – Peritheorion where you can see the fortress ring, towers and above the gates are the imperial monograms of Byzantine emperors.
- the biotope in Vistonida Lake
- Ismarida Lake to the east of Vistonida the only freshwater lake in Thrace, a shelter for 200 species of birds.
- Nymfaia forest
- to the southern side of the prefecture visit the beautiful beaches other sandy and other with pebbles that are full of tourists in the summer months.
Information
Access-Transport
By Bus
Rodopi KTEL (Public Bus Service)
ktelrodopis.gr
0030 25310 22912
Macedonia KTEL (Public Bus Service)
Macedonia Public Bus Service
0030 2310 595419
Athens KTEL (Public Bus Service) (Kifisos station)
0030 210 5144905
By Train
TrainOSE
Routs- Customer Service Center: 14511
By plane
Nearest airport “Dimokritos” Alexandroupoli
Useful
Area: 2.543 sq. km
Capital: Komotini
Rodopi prefecture belongs to the administrative regional unit of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace and includes the municipalities of Arrianon, Iasmou, Komotini and Maronia – Sapon.