Drama, Greek Macedonia

Drama is a land of valleys and mountains with alpine refuges and ski resorts. Glorious forests home to flocks of birds. Fertile ground and endless tobacco plantations. Caves with enormous multicoloured stalactites. Rivers whose lyrical waters bubble gently.

The scenary in the region is simply magical and the people hospitable people with warm smiles. The prefectural capital bears the same name, Drama. The town due to its abundant water that flows through it, is very green and is perched above acres and acres of tobacco fields.

Drama lies at the foot of Mount Falakro which is called the mountain of flowers by the locals but means literally 'bald mountain'. A mountain of incredible beauty there are ski slopes and well eqipped refuges for climbers. All the refuges have beds, mattresses and blankets, heating, water, and a kitchen. Falakros ski center has one difficult slope, 1000 meters long. (Tel-0521 23.054 or 23.049)

Mara's Cave at Kokinogies, about twenty kilometers from Drama is filled with stunning colored stalactites, some of which are 2 meters in diameter with their tips touching the surface of the water.Why not take a hike through the wonderful forest of Elatia (70 km. north of Drama), where amongst the pines, oaks and willows, the red fir grows, a very rare tree in this country whose height often reaches 50 metres.

Southeast of Drama (10 km.) is the pretty market town of Doxato, with facilities for tourists and a reputation for fun and high spirits. The Bounar-Bassi springs, with running streams and enormous trees, are just 3 kilometres away at the foot of Mount Kouslari.

Used with permission from Matt Barrett's Greece Travel Guide