Macedonia borders the neighboring peripheries of Thessaly to the south, Thrace (part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery) to the east and Epirus to the west. It also borders Albania to the north-west, North Macedonia to the north and Bulgaria to the north-east. The three Greek Macedonian peripheries and their subdivisions are:
Kastoria is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains.
Florina is a gateway for the astonishing natural settings the western part of Macedonia, close to the borders with F.Y.R.O.M. Nearby you find the wild Prespa lakes.
Krokos Kozanis grows from a small rounded bulb. It produces small purple flowers, with three red-gold stigma strands. Saffron is made from the dried strands.
Are you looking for adventures in forested mountains? Head for Grevena, the town of forests, rivers, creeks, and mushrooms!
‘Water’ is a keyword when it comes to Edessa, a town of rivers, fountains, streams, and waterfalls.
When visiting Thessaloniki, you should consider going to Veria for a day or two to explore its atmospheric, historic quarters, and the lush, little river Tripotamos running through it.
Mount Olympus is hiding quaint villages, tucked away in its green hills, where hikers meet at trails crossing the mountain slopes. And at the mountain foot pristine beaches are waiting for you.
Thessaloniki – the cultural hub and beautiful, festive co-capital of Greece is nestled in the heart of the Thermaic Gulf.
Halkidiki peninsula is famous for its cosmopolitan seaside resorts, exotic beaches, and the stunning green landscape.
Just south of the Greek-Bulgarian borders in the region of Serres you will find Lake Kerkini, a wetland of world-wide importance.
In Drama highlands you will find dense forests, natural springs, subalpine meadows, rivers, caves, waterfalls, and a skiing centre.
Kavala is often referred to as a gateway to the islands in the northeastern Aegean Sea, but it has plenty of attractions of its own.
Thassos is a green beauty tucked away in the northernmost part of the Aegean Sea. The island is unknown to most travellers.
Agio Oros (Mount Athos) comprises of 20 majestic monasteries and 12 hermitages. It is a unique monastic community organized in Athos peninsula in Halkidiki.
Central Macedonia: 5) Edessa 6) Veria 7) Pieria 9) Thessaloniki 10) Halkidiki 11) Serres
East Macedonia: 12) Drama 13) Kavala 14) Thassos 15) Mount Athos
Macedonia – a historical region of the Balkan peninsula
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as well as Kosovo. It covers approximately 67,000 square kilometres (25,869 sq mi) and has a population of 4.76 million.
Ancient Macedonia
Its oldest known settlements date back approximately 9,000 years. From the middle of the 4th century BC, the Kingdom of Macedon became the dominant power in Greece and the neighbouring regions; since then Macedonia has had a diverse history. Prior to its expansion under Phillip II, the ancient kingdom of Macedonia, to which the modern region owes its name, lay entirely within the current Greek province of Macedonia.
Macedonia and Alexander the Great
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south. The rise of Macedon, from a small kingdom at the periphery of Classical Greek affairs, to one which came to dominate the entire Hellenic world, occurred under the reign of Phillip II. For a brief period, after the conquests of Alexander the Great, it became the most powerful state in the world, controlling a territory that included the former Persian empire, stretching as far as the Indus River; at that time it inaugurated the Hellenistic period of Ancient Greek civilization.
Macedonia – Highways, ports and airports
Thessaloniki is a major port city and industrial center; Kavala is the second harbor of Macedonia. Apart from the principal airport at Thessaloniki (Makedonia Airport), airports also exist in Kavala (M. Alexandros Airport), Kozani (Filippos Airport), and Kastoria (Aristotelis Airport). The “Via Egnatia” motorway crosses the full distance of Macedonia, linking most of its main cities. It also has a train system; it is usually criticized for being underfunded, and there has been much anger directed against OSE, the national railway company.