Location information

Traditional villages

  The historical conditions of the post-war course of the region allowed for the preservation of the traditional character of many pieces of architecture, which have recently been declared to be scheduled buildings. The survival of this type of settlement permits the detection of the function of this very region in the past and stamps its communication with the wider Balkan region.
  We can concisely refer to villages with peculiar house construction, justified by the characteristic climatic, social and economic conditions (e.g. Prespa and Korestia), as well as to distinct villages to which their inhabitants once had migrated (e.g. Nymfeo).
  In all cases these houses witness the work of local workmen, who were famous all over the Balkans. In short, we mention villages of special architecture, like those in the Prespa region with the villages of Psarades, Aghios Germanos, Miliona, Kallithea, Oxia etc. being the most characteristic ones.
  The Korestia region (Antartiko, Prassino, Korifi, Kottas etc.) makes up a separate group and so do some villages in the eastern part of Varnous, west of Florina and such are Proti, Ethniko, Akritas, Alona, Kratero, Parori etc.
  There are some isolated examples of very particular villages and such are Pissoderi and mainly Nymfeo. The latter, has been preserved in the best possible condition and is rightly considered to be unique all over Greece, with mansions decorated with frescoes and fretwork found everywhere.
  Peculiarly shaped constructions can be seen in almost all the villages, some examples being the windmill in Aghios Panteleimon, the school building in Xino Nero, the Nikios Scholi (School) in Nymfeo, the Town Scholi (School) in Lehovo etc.
(text: Andreas Andreou)
This text (extract) is cited October 2003 from the Prefecture of Florina - Florina Prefecture Tourism Committee tourist pamphlet.