DitikiMakedonia-Region

The Map of the Region

This project was co-funded by the Public Investment Program and the E.U. - 3rd CSF Operational Program - Information Society.
The content is from the site's 2007 archived pages and gives just a small glimpse of what the site offered visitors.

Considering the advances in web design, if you compare help desk features that were available on this site in 2007 to the Help Desk software that is available today you can appreciate the advances. Nevertheless visitors to ditikimakedonia-region.com were able to navigate the site quite well. Links were available to Administrative Structure, Prefectural Government,Municipalities, Members of the Parliament, Region Tour, Citizen Guide, Public Services, Infrastructure - Bodies, Civic Protection, Weather Forecasts, Culture, Assistance Programs, Announcements, Opinion Polls, FAQ, and even a Newsletter. However todays helps desks are uniquely positioned to supply an incredible trove of useful data and many of the Desk software tools have API capability as well as plugin options that allow connections of other software to the help center.
Please view the information on this page as an historical reference, since it is not longer being updated.

NB: My great grandparents came from Macedonia. My great grandfather was a maker of fine carpets. During the Balkin wars of 1912 and 1913 he moved the family to Italy. My grandfather grew up in Italy and worked for an importer of high quality furnishings, including Persian rugs. My father went to college at the Rhode Island School of Design where he majored in textile design. He is retired now but worked for years as a designer for a variety of manufacturers in the US and eventually for Cotas in Italy as an buyer for their carpet division. When I mentioned my ancestry to my celebrity friend and fellow NYC lawyer Benjamin Pred, he informed me of a very interesting law in modern Macedonia. Every deputy of the Sobranie or Assembly, the government, and a group of at least 10,000 citizens have the right to submit a bill for adoption by the Sobranie. How a former Queens District Attorney knew this factoid escapes me, but glad to learn anything about the land of my heritage.

Until very recently, Google searches in Macedonia for the governing body "Sobranie" showed results as if the term referenced a school in Turkey, Sobran ilkokulu. I know this from message boards that complained about this error, which no one seemed to be able to fix. While an insignificant problem for those in the US, this caused quite an uproar both in Macedonia and Turkey by those who had some relationship with the Assembly. We know there are many problems with Google's search results because of posts like this one, and while this particular error is really not that harmful, others can be devastating as pointed out in the very informative article. We need a way to reliably remove Google search results when those results are harmful. All of my relatives in Macedonia have heard of this problem and think it's funny, but government officials are not amused.

The prefecture of Florina

Situated in the north of Western Macedonia, it is the gateway to FYROM and Albania. The prefecture's economy benefits from agriculture, cattle farming and abundant mineral resources. The population of the area, according to the 1991 census, appears to be 53 147 inhabitants. In antiquity, the Florina's prefecture coincided with the regions of Lygkistida, of Eordaia and Orestida. Since the 5th century BC, the city-slate, though small, played an important role in the so called Peloponnesian War in the northern part of Greece. The mother of Philip II and wife to Amyntas III, Eurydice, is said to have come from Lygkistida.

The region was the scene of many historical facts during the 10th century, when Samuel created the new Bulgarian state ruling from Prespa at first and then fromAchrida. In the early years of the Turkish occupation, monasticism was flourishing in the lake Prespa; the ascetic caves and monasteries of Porfyra, Eleousa, Analipsi and Metamorfossi bear witness to this. During the Turkish occupation and due to anarchy,many Christians fled to the north of Greece in order to be saved. As a result, many newsettlements were founded such as the Vlach villages of Nympfeo (or Neveska) and Pisoderi, and the villages of Flambouro (or Megovani) ,Lechovo, Drosopigi (or Belkameni) inhabited by people from Epirus, most of them being builders.

The region played an important role in the numerous uprisings against the Turks.

In 1865 "the Society of Friends" (Filiki Heteria) was founded by Anastassios Pycheon, Nik. Filippidis, Thomas Paschidis, loannis Argyropoulos, and the brothers Michail and Anastassios Nik. Tsirlis from Nympfeo. For twenty years, this underground movement had fought against the conquerors under their very nose and initiated teachers, priests, tradesmen and simple peasants to the organisation before the Turks even realised its existence. During the difficult years of the Macedonian War, it was fighters from this area who lead the struggle against the Bulgarians and helped the villages of Korestia breathe more easily once again.

Florina

Being the capital of the prefecture, Florina is an administrative centre and has all the charasteristics of a modem provincial city, whose economy is based on both agriculture and tourism. The rich tradition and the good taste of the inhabitants endowed the city with beautiful buildings of neoclassical and Macedonian architecture.

Generally speaking, the city centre is dense and it is here, where there are the most, important, commercial and business enterprises. Walks in this painters city will reveal the hidden beauties of this Macedonian earth. On the picturesque Sakouleva river -bank, where buildings of Macedonian architecture are constructed next to neo-classical ones, you may visit the Museum of Modern Art.The museum was set up and run by the "House of Friends of Art in Florina" ("StegiFilotechnon Florinas"). More than 30 painters and sculptors living in Florina are graduates of the School of Fine Arts. Their paintings are displayed in the Art Gallery, founded by the "House of Friends of Art" and housed in the listed building of OSE (Organization of Greek Railways).

The Archaeological Museum makes the visitor aware the past. There, the ancient cities of Fiorina and Petron as well as the prehistoric settlement of Armenochori and other regions are displayed. No less interesting is the collection of Byzantine wall paintings and icons, especially those found in the Prespa region. Leave Fiorina southward and after passing through the villages of Skopia, Tropeouchos and Ydroussa you will encounter the village ofDrosopigi (15 km) built into the dense forested slopes of Vitsio mountain and in at an altitude of 1020 m. It has been a renowned village of craftsmen, with a noble tradition ofhagiographers since the period of

Turkish domination. Worth visiting are the folk art collection of the village and the old water-mill of Styllos.

Don't forget to sample the delicious "greens" pie and the cultured buttermilk.

The route Drosopigi - Kastoria, which leads to the ski resort of Vitsi and the villages, Oxia and Vyssinia, is impressive. The vast forests of beech and oak trees and the flowing waterscomplete a unique and beautiful image.

Nympheo

Overlooking Amyntaio's plain, in a plateau (1360 m) on Vitsi and protected by humans and strong north winds of Macedonia, lies the rich village of Nympheo, formerly Neveska. The visitor is stunned by the houses made of stone with rooms full of ornaments and folk paintings by painters from Western Macedonia and the fine railbars in windows and on balconies. In the past the village was rich and prosperous due to the ingenious and daring Neveskiotes (inhabitants of Neveska) tradesmen and renowned silver and gold smithers. However, it fell into decline after the great crash of 1929 and became deserted after World War II and the civil war. If you visit Nympheo, you will enjoy wandering around the cobbled streets, sneaking into the forests of beeches on horseback, visiting the forest station; Arktouros and learning about the history of the village through the splendid collection in the Folk ArtMuseum and absorbing the view towards the valley and Zazari and Chimaditis lakes.

Amyntaio

36 km southeast of Fiorina lies Amyntaio, a town famous for its wines. It is enclosed by four lakes: Vegoritida (the deepest lake of Greece), Petron, Chimaditis, Zazariand by the mountains of Verno, Vora and Vermio. Groves and vineyards cultivated on the lake shores of Petron, surround the town, while in the south Amyntaio faces the lignite mines of the steam and electric station. If you want to understand the area, you have to discover the waters of the lakes, to follow the narrow alleys of SaintPanteleimonas with the old windmill, to listen to the fishermen with their legends about Vegoritida lake, to drink the sour water, to admire the wild beauty of the rocky desertof Keli and to climb to the picturesque Lechovo. The important craftsmen village whose past is displayed in the Folk Art Museum, is worth a visit.

Arktouros

In the region of Amyntaio, there is the Centre for the Protection of Bears founded by Arktouros in 1993. It consists of a Veterinary Clinic in Aeto, which give shelter to the bears for a certain period of time and provides the necessary medical treatment. A Forest Park is located near Nympheo, where the bears live in their natural environment in an area of 50 000 square metres, especially fenced.

Vigla – Pisoderi

Driving up the magnificent mountain of Varnounda, passing through stunning scenery, you reach the col of Vigla (20 Km.) In this locale, there is the ski resort 'Vigla-Pisoderi" reaching international standards of excellence. The route continues towards Pisoderi, a well known village of Vlachs, surrounded by immense forests, rich valleys andcold water. The School of Modestia (1903), which today has been turned into a hospice and the church of Saint Paraskevi, where Pavlos Melas head was interred. The road goesdown to Korestia and passes through the village of Adartiko. Once, it was one of the most important commercial centre- The peculiar architecture of the houses, picturesquecafes and taverns serving local food trickle the feel of the traveller. The visitor in Korestia encounters the impressive architecture of the stone-built houses. Those still standing remind us of the historical facts of recent Greek history.

Prespas

In 1974, the area was declared National Park and "Land of a Particular Natural Beauty". Thus, rare flora and fauna species are currently protected. 260 out of 380 species of birds existing in Greece, live in the area : pelicans, herons, greylag geese, cormorant, mallards etc. There are also 17 different species of fish, eight of them being endemic (carp, rud, chub, eel) and the "babel" unique to Greece. There are 45 species of mammals like bear, otter, wild boar, wolves, roe deer and wild cats. The preserved dwarf-cow, as tall as 1,10m lives in Psarades.

The two lakes, Large Prespa (Megali Prespa) and Small Prespa (Mikri Prespa)lie 50 km from Fiorina and 54 km from Kastoria. This area is ideal for an enjoyable walk. Starting from the natural terraces of Prevali and Kale, you may visit the settlements of Oxia, Kallithea, Platy and Miliona. The two floor houses and many of the Byzantine monuments found in these villages, still retain some of the typicalcharacteristics of traditional architecture. The historical settlement of Saint Germanos is so beautiful that one can not imagine it, if one has never been there. The lofty stone houses with their loggias and projected details on the walls and the picturesque narrow alleyways seem to have a rejuvenating effect in the area. Don't forget to visit the churches of Saint Athanassios (1816) and of Saint Germanos (11th century) which, according to tradition, is dedicated to Saint Germanos. Patriarch of Constantinople. His image is portrayed on the Apse. The Society of the Prespa Lakes Protection was founded in 1991 aiming at the preservation of nature and culture of the area. It is housed in a traditional building in Saint Germanos along with the Visitors Information Centre.

Saint Achillios

The islet of Saint Achiilios is in the Small Prespa. The lake is about 13 km long and about 6 km in its widest part whereas its greatest depth is 7.8 m. Following the narrow causeway which separates the two lakes and links them at Koula, the 2m. wide channel, you may head either towards the village of Psarades or the islet of Saint Achillios.

The islet is 800m. from the pier. You can visit the islet whenever you want, making a simple phone call to the boatmen who will come to take you there. The beauty of SaintGermanos is unbelievable. According to local legend the small houses of the village must not exceed the number 11 because the 12th will fall down. The visitor stunned by the unexpected natural beauty, experiences the tranquility of a deserted land, away from the noise of everyday life. Near the settlement, you will encounter the remnants of the three aisle basilica of Saint Achillios. This magnificent monument was built at the end of the10th century by Samuel, ruler of Bulgaria, in order to house the relic of Saint Achillios, bishop of Larissa. One of the most important objects found in the basilica tombs is a piece of golden cloth, displayed today in the White Tower in Thessaloniki. Following the trail among apple trees and shrubs, you will arrive at the southern edge of the islet, where the ruins of the monastery of Panaghia Porfyra lie. Only the small church of the monastery stands there. It is decorated with remarkable wall paintings dating back to 1524 and 1743.

The Large Prespa - Psarades

The lake has an area of about 280,000 acres. It is 26 km long, 20 km in its widest part and with a depth of 55 m. Psarades is built on a natural bay. Its beautiful houses stillretaining their traditional characteristics, the picturesque square surrounded by small shops, the people's innocence and charm and the kingfishers' cry complete an image of pastoral calm. You will be thrilled with your visit by boat to the ascetic caves of the Large Prespa. The rocks and caves on the southern shore are full of Byzantine paintings and inscriptions. Floating past the vertical walls of the cape, you will come across the first ascetic cave which is dedicated to the Metamorfossi tou Sotiros dating back to the 13th century. Wooden steps will lead you to a tiny church surrounded by monks cells. Like an eagle's nest in a small nook, there is the ascetic cave of Mikri Analipsi The cave has few wall paintings in the inner sanctum which date back to the 15th century. The most stunning ascetic cave is very close to the Albanian border. Within the heart of an enormous crevice on wild rock lie the biggest ascetic cave. The majority of the monks lived in that cave which was dedicated to Panaghia Eleoussa.

More Background On DitikiMakedonia-Region.com

Before social media, influencer travel blogs, and interactive tourism portals became the norm, a few pioneering regional websites served as digital ambassadors for their communities. Among them was DitikiMakedonia-Region.com, an early online portal devoted to Western Macedonia, one of Greece’s most historic and culturally complex regions.
Launched in the early 2000s and co-funded by the Public Investment Program and the European Union’s 3rd Community Support Framework (Operational Program: Information Society), the site functioned as both a government information hub and a cultural showcase. Though no longer active, its archived pages offer a fascinating glimpse into the way Greece’s regional identity, heritage, and public communication adapted to the internet era.

Ownership and Purpose

DitikiMakedonia-Region.com was the official online initiative of the Region of Western Macedonia, representing the Greek government’s broader effort to digitize local administration and improve public access to information. Funded partly through EU modernization programs, it reflected an early form of “e-Government,” where transparency, efficiency, and public participation were beginning to take root in Greek civic life.

The purpose of the site was twofold:

To serve citizens by providing up-to-date information about local governance, public services, and infrastructure.
To promote the cultural and natural assets of Western Macedonia to Greek and international visitors.

Visitors could access pages covering:

Administrative Structure and Prefectural Government
Municipalities and Members of Parliament
Public Services and Assistance Programs
Infrastructure and Civic Protection
Announcements, Opinion Polls, and FAQs
Regional Culture, Weather Forecasts, and Tourism Information

For its time, this range of topics and its navigable interface were remarkably sophisticated, making the website one of Greece’s early models of regional digital engagement.

The Early Digital Design

The website’s design was emblematic of early 2000s public-sector web architecture — simple, functional, and text-based, with minimal use of multimedia. Yet it was organized intuitively around the visitor’s needs.
At a time when dial-up connections were common in Greece, the site’s light layout made it accessible even from remote villages in the mountainous prefectures of Florina, Grevena, and Kastoria.

Its “Help Desk” feature was a standout innovation. Visitors could access guides and assistance links, a precursor to today’s interactive chat-based government support systems. In retrospect, it foreshadowed the rise of API-driven service centers and customer support integration that define modern web governance.

The archived version today functions as a time capsule — showing how early digital policy initiatives sought to make governance transparent and participatory, even with limited technology.

The Region of Western Macedonia

Geography and Setting

Western Macedonia occupies a strategic position in northern Greece, bordering Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia (formerly FYROM). It is the only Greek region without a coastline, but what it lacks in beaches it compensates with breathtaking highland beauty — lakes, forests, and stone-built villages that appear suspended in time.

The region comprises four prefectures: Florina, Kastoria, Kozani, and Grevena. These areas share an intertwined history stretching back to antiquity, marked by ancient kingdoms, Byzantine monasteries, Ottoman influences, and modern national struggles.

Economy and Resources

According to the site’s historical data, Western Macedonia’s economy has long been based on agriculture, cattle farming, and mining. Rich in mineral resources and with a legacy of craftsmanship and trade, it developed industries ranging from fur production in Kastoria to wine cultivation in Amyntaio and energy generation in Kozani, where lignite mines have powered much of Greece’s electricity grid.

Today, the region remains one of Greece’s major centers for renewable energy development, combining its historical reliance on natural resources with modern sustainability initiatives.

The Prefecture of Florina

At the heart of Western Macedonia lies Florina, a city celebrated for its artistry, architecture, and intellectual spirit. The website’s regional section painted Florina as both a provincial capital and cultural hub, where “walks in this painters’ city reveal the hidden beauties of the Macedonian earth.”

The Sakouleva River, running through the city center, is lined with neoclassical and Macedonian-style mansions, reflecting the prosperity of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Florina’s Museum of Modern Art, established by the “House of Friends of Art in Florina,” exhibits the works of over 30 painters and sculptors who graduated from the School of Fine Arts. The Archaeological Museum complements this by presenting the prehistory and ancient heritage of the area — from the cities of Fiorina and Petron to the prehistoric site of Armenochori.

Florina’s dual identity as both industrial and artistic mirrors the region’s broader balance between modern progress and deep-rooted tradition.

Nympheo: The Stone Jewel of Macedonia

One of the most distinctive destinations featured on the site was Nympheo (formerly Neveska), a stone-built village perched 1,360 meters high on Mount Vitsi.
Protected from the northern winds and framed by dense beech forests, Nympheo is often called one of the most beautiful villages in Greece.

In its heyday, Nympheo prospered through trade and craftsmanship — particularly silver and goldsmithing. Wealthy merchants built grand stone mansions adorned with painted interiors and ornate railings. The 20th century brought hardship, with the Great Depression, World War II, and the Greek Civil War leading to depopulation. Yet, in recent decades, it has been lovingly restored.

Visitors today find cobblestone alleys, boutique guesthouses, and the Arktouros Bear Sanctuary, founded in 1993 to protect rescued brown bears and wolves. The Folk Art Museum of Nympheo further preserves local traditions, offering a tactile connection to Macedonia’s past.

Amyntaio: The Land of Lakes and Wine

Roughly 36 kilometers southeast of Florina lies Amyntaio, a town surrounded by four magnificent lakes — Vegoritida, Petron, Chimaditis, and Zazari — and ringed by the mountains Verno, Vora, and Vermio.
The region’s fertile soil and unique microclimate have made it a center of viticulture, especially for Xinomavro, a robust red wine now internationally acclaimed.

Amyntaio’s landscapes are dotted with windmills, traditional fishermen’s houses, and the lignite mines that once fueled nearby steam and electric stations. Local legends speak of the lakes’ spirits and the fishermen who knew their moods by heart. The website highlighted this fusion of myth and modernity as central to understanding Western Macedonia’s cultural fabric.

Prespa National Park: Where Nature and History Meet

One of the region’s crown jewels is the Prespa Lakes area, shared between Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. In 1974, it was declared a National Park and Land of Particular Natural Beauty, and the site portrayed it as both a biodiversity haven and a living museum of Byzantine culture.

Prespa hosts over 260 of Greece’s 380 bird species, including Dalmatian pelicans, herons, and cormorants, alongside 17 species of fish, eight of which are endemic. Mammals such as bears, wolves, otters, and wild boars roam freely, while ancient monasteries and ascetic caves cling to cliffs above the lakes.

The village of Saint Germanos, with its stone houses and two medieval churches — Saint Athanasios (1816) and Saint Germanos (11th century) — is one of Greece’s best-preserved traditional settlements. Nearby, the Society for the Protection of Prespa Lakes, founded in 1991, continues the mission of preserving this unique ecosystem.

Saint Achillios: Island of Serenity

Among the most memorable features of the site was its description of Saint Achillios, a small island in Mikri Prespa (Small Prespa Lake). Visitors could reach it via a narrow causeway or by calling local boatmen to ferry them across.
The tranquility of the islet, dotted with apple trees and ruins, embodies the meditative beauty of Northern Greece. The main landmark — the Basilica of Saint Achillios, built in the late 10th century by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria — once housed the relics of Saint Achillios, Bishop of Larissa. The remnants of the Monastery of Panaghia Porfyra, with frescoes from 1524 and 1743, stand as reminders of the region’s spiritual continuity through centuries of political change.

Vigla – Pisoderi: Macedonia’s Winter Paradise

The Vigla-Pisoderi Ski Resort, near the village of Pisoderi, is another highlight that made DitikiMakedonia-Region.com stand out as a comprehensive travel resource.
Set on Mount Varnounda at an altitude of over 1,650 meters, the resort meets international standards and remains one of Greece’s top destinations for winter sports. Pisoderi itself, a traditional Vlach village, is known for its alpine architecture and cultural festivals, connecting outdoor recreation with deep-rooted community life.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Western Macedonia’s historical importance extends back to the ancient Macedonian kingdoms, the Byzantine era, and the Ottoman occupation. The region played a key role in the Macedonian Struggle (1904–1908), where Greek fighters sought to defend the area from Bulgarian and Ottoman control.
Local movements like the “Society of Friends” (Filiki Heteria), founded in the 19th century in the village of Nympheo, helped lay the groundwork for Greek independence. Teachers, priests, and tradesmen risked their lives organizing resistance under Ottoman rule, and their legacy endures in the monuments and folk museums described on the site.

By preserving and presenting these histories online, DitikiMakedonia-Region.com served not just as a travel resource but as a digital custodian of memory, ensuring that the region’s struggles and triumphs were accessible to a global audience.

Decline and Archival Legacy

Like many early government-supported websites, DitikiMakedonia-Region.com eventually fell out of use as newer, centralized platforms replaced individual regional portals. By the 2010s, it ceased updating. Yet its archived version remains valuable — both historically and technologically.

For researchers and cultural historians, the site now offers a snapshot of early Greek digital communication, before the widespread adoption of responsive design, social media integration, and open-data standards. Its combination of regional pride, administrative information, and educational storytelling represents a formative stage in Greece’s digital identity.

DitikiMakedonia-Region.com was far more than a static government website; it was an early digital bridge between the people of Western Macedonia and the wider world. By merging civic transparency, cultural preservation, and tourism promotion, it captured the spirit of a region where mountain monasteries, lakeside villages, and ancient traditions coexist with modern life.

Today, even as it remains frozen in the archives of the early internet, the site continues to speak for Western Macedonia’s enduring beauty and resilience — a region that has weathered centuries of change while preserving its authentic soul.

DitikiMakedonia-Region.com