Based on what it was mentioned in the previous chapters and taking into account the specific incentives that push the tourist to visit an«Area Water» the following routes were studied and proposed.
1st Route: Mussel - «The mussels and their secrets»
Tourist visits the municipal department of Kymina (municipality of Axios) and Chalastra. After the update he will have in the Information Center he can visit the locations of mussels’ growth in the region, where he will see from near the farming of shellfish and their treatment to decrustation after the harvest.
A visitor’s participation is suggested in tasting events or simply visit to the region where fish restaurants will be able to know the local kitchen.
Along with the specific activity (which is estimated to last about 3 hours) the visitor can, depending on the time he has at his disposal, see:
o Macedonian house
o Farm milk Vrachias
o Water tower
o Municipal Gallery
Interesting dates for the planning of the trip:
o 26 October – Feast at municipality of Vrachias
o Early September – Rice festival in municipality of Malgara
o 29 June – Feast at municipality of Malgara
o St George’s day – Horse racing in Delta, Cultural Events and Fair
o Mussel festival – Mussel festival in municipality of Chalastra
o 22 October – Representation of the Liberation of Chalastra and Fair
Ecotouristic Map of Axios Estuaries
Source: Management Authority of Axios –Loudias – Aliakmonas Estuaries
2nd Route: Rice – «From Production to Consumption»
It is proposed that the tourist visits before all the Information Center, where he will get useful information for the cultivation of rice in the region. In this route tourists will visit the rice’s production place, where is expected to witness one of the methods of irrigation the fields and on the other methods of cultivation. We should bear in my mind that the stage of cultivation of rice during the visit, depends on the time of the year.
The route includes visits to the Local Organizations of Land Improvement (L.O.L.I), where, depending on the opportunities, they can get information about the process and irrigation systems.
The route will be completed with visits to the rice mill, barns and rice packing, where the tourist will see closely the last stages of processing rice before marketing. Finally it is important to involve tourists in tasting events, but also visiting taverns and restaurants of the region in order to get to know in local taste.
Along with this route the tourist can visit:
o Macedonian house
o Sacred temple of St. Dimitrios
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Water tower
o Municipal Gallery
o Church of Peter and Paul and Old Cemetery
o Barrier of Axios in Eleousa
o Turkish house
o St. Athanasios’ church
o St. George’s church
Interesting dates for the planning of the trip:
o 26 October – Feast at municipality of of Vrachia
o Early September – Rice festival in municipality of Malgara
o 29 June – Feast at municipality of Malgara
o St. George’s day – Kalochoritika
o Through August to early September – Sindia and Ionia
o St George’s day – Horse Racing at the Axios Estuaries, Cultural Events and Fair
o Mussel’s festival – Mussel’s festival at municipality of Chalastra
o 22 October – Reconstruction and Liberation Chalastra fair
o 27 July – St. Panteleimon fair
o Last Sunday Carnival – Traditional fight with yogurt
o Ash Monday – fair
o St. George’s day – Giorgania
o 15 August – Fair at municipality of Monastriou and Valtochoriou
o New Year’s Eve and New Year – Custom of Camel
o From Christmas to Epiphany – Rogatsia
Ecotouristic Map of Axios Estuaries
Source: Management Authority of Axios –Loudias – Aliakmonas Estuaries
3rd Route: Wine – «The festival of Dionysus»
In the municipal districts of Agchialos and Nea Mesimvria of the municipality of St. Athanasios, meets the art of cultivation of vine and the wine making. Tourist, with a visit to the region, can become a shareholder of the entire process from cultivation and harvest grapes to the touch, the cooking of must, maturation and bottling.
The tourist can visit the vineyards and wineries and he can participate in events wine tasting and testing. In this route the visitor may have time to see:
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Museum of Balkan Wars
o Greek Orthodox church of St Athanasios Nea Mesimvria
Interesting dates for the planning of the trip:
o September (Along with Thessaloniki International Fair – Wine Festival in municipality of Agchialou
o From 24 to 28 October – Celebrations for the liberation of Thessaloniki.
o 18 January – Feast of municipality of St. Athanasios
Ecotouristic Map of Axios Estuaries
Source: Management Authority of Axios –Loudias – Aliakmonas Estuaries
4rd Route: Natural Environment – «The nature outside my window»
This route starts from the Information Center where the visitor is informed about the area and either he follows a group tour or supplied by all appropriate means to be crawled safely in the Axios Estuaries.
From here activities such as cycling and walking in incised cycle paths, horse riding, and tour boat, can begin. Activities that may be done in groups or alone, tourist guide presence or not.
During the route, the tourist can devote time to visit:
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Museum Balkan Wars
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. Athanasios, Nea Mesimvria
o Macedonian House
o Greek Orthodox Church of St Dimitrios
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Water tower
o Municipal Gallery
o Greek Orthodox Church of Peter and Paul and Old Cemetery
o Dam of Axios in Eleousa
o Turkish house
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. Athanasios
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Interesting dates for the planning of the trip:
o September (Along with Thessaloniki International Fair – Wine Festival in municipality of Agchialou
o From 24 to 28 October – Celebrations for the liberation of Thessaloniki.
o 18 January – Feast of municipality of St Athanasios
o 26 October – Feast at municipality of Vrachia
o Early September – Rice festival in municipality of Malgara
o 29 June – Feast at municipality of Malgara
o St. George’s day – Kalochoritika
o Through August to early September – Sindia and Ionia
o St. George’s day – Horse Racing at the Delta of Axios, Cultural Events and Fair
o Mussel’s festival – Mussel’s festival at municipality of Chalastra
o 22 October – Reconstruction and Liberation Chalastra fair
o 27 July – St. Panteleimon fair
o Last Sunday Carnival – Traditional fight with yogurt
o Ash Monday – fair
o St. George’s day – Giorgania
o 15 August – Fair at municipality of Monastriou and Valtochoriou
o New Year’s Eve and New Year – Custom of Camel
o From Christmas to Epiphany – Rogatsia
Ecotouristic Map of Axios Estuaries
Source: Development Company Thessaloniki S.A.
5th Route: Culture – «People Water»
In this route the tourist, after visiting the Information Center, he will start the tour in the Water Area of Thessaloniki visiting cultural and religious monuments and traditional resources of interest. This route can be escorted by tourist guide, in groups or individually.
Given the vast geographical spread of points of interest should be devoted several days for the completion of this route
During the route, the tourist can devote time to visit:
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Museum Balkan Wars
o Greek Orthodox Church of St Athanasios Nea Mesimvria
o Macedonian House
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. Dimitrios
o Macedonian Ancient Tombs
o Water tower
o Municipal Gallery
o Greek Orthodox Church of Peter and Paul and Old Cemetery
o Dam Axios in Eleousa
o Turkish house
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. Athanasios
o Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Interesting dates for the planning of the trip:
o September (Along with Thessaloniki International Fair – Wine Festival in municipality of Agchialou
o From 24 to 28 October – Celebrations for the liberation of Thessaloniki.
o 18 January – Feast of municipality of St. Athanasios
o 26 October – Feast at municipality of Vrachia
o Early September – Rice festival in municipality of Malgara
o 29 June – Feast at municipality of Malgara
o St. George’s day – Kalochoritika
o Through August to early September – Sindia and Ionia
o St. George’s day – Horse Racing at the Axios Estuaries, Cultural Events and Fair
o Mussel’s festival – Mussel’s festival at municipality of Chalastra
o 22 October – Reconstruction and Liberation Chalastra fair
o 27 July – St. Panteleimon fair
o Last Sunday Carnival – Traditional fight with yogurt
o Ash Monday – fair
o St. George’s day – Giorgania
o 15 August – Fair at municipality of Monastiri and Valtochori
o New Year’s Eve and New Year – Custom of Camel
o From Christmas to Epiphany – Rogatsia
Ecotouristic Map of Axios Estuaries
Source: Development Company Thessaloniki S.A.