{"id":5849,"date":"2016-03-28T23:35:18","date_gmt":"2016-03-28T15:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/?p=5849&lang=en"},"modified":"2016-05-10T15:37:00","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T07:37:00","slug":"northern-greece-small-paradise-great-variety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/5849.html","title":{"rendered":"Northern Greece: A small paradise with a great variety"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greece\u2019s vast north is unmatched for geographical, cultural and even culinary diversity. Here, great stretches of mountains, lakes, forest and coastline remain to be discovered. With terrain stretching from the azure Ionian Sea across the rugged Epirus mountains to the Thracian plain, northern Greece is the place to be, especially for travelers hungry for variety. Today, let\u2019s travel to the northwest of Greece to discover a little more about the hidden treasures of this small paradise.
\n\"towns_1\"<\/p>\n

Parga<\/h2>\n

\"towns_2\"
\nThe quaint town of Parga is the most popular summer destination in Epirus, in western Greece. Built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Pezovolos hill and surrounded by lavish greenery and beautiful blue sea, the town has a laid-back island feel to it. <\/p>\n

\"towns_3\"
\nAmongst Parga\u2019s highlights, visitors can enjoy its charming and colorful waterfront houses and stone-paved squares, and visit the ruins of an old Venetian castle atop the hill. Nearby Valtos and Lichnos beaches, connected to the port of Parga by boat, are amongst Greece\u2019s finest.
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\nAll you need is a motorboat to discover and enjoy the beauty of beaches hidden in the tiny bays between Parga and Syvota.
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\nThe castle of Parga
\nOn the hill above Parga, the castle looks down on it all. Walking through its vaulted corridors, battlements and gun rooms you\u2019ll hear its tumultuous history. This impressive attraction was built in the 14th century by the Normans, destroyed by the Ottomans, rebuilt in 1572 by the Venetians and restored by Ali Pasha in 1814. Open all day, it should be high on your list.
\n\"towns_6\"<\/p>\n

Kastoria<\/h2>\n

\"towns_7\"
\nNorthern Greece\u2019s hidden gem, the photogenic city of Kastoria is built on a narrow strip of land amidst the still waters of beautiful Lake Orestiada, giving the impression of a floating island. <\/p>\n

\"towns_8\"<\/p>\n

The city flourished during the 19th century as a fur trade and manufacturing center, and many of its traders\u2019 luxurious mansions and traditional houses can be admired in the old quarters of Doltso and Apozari, along with 72 beautiful churches that are a testament to Kastoria\u2019s rich Byzantine past.
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\n\"towns_10\"
\nThe lovely promenade around the lake is perhaps one of Greece\u2019s most scenic walks, offering spectacular views of Kastoria and its surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n

\"towns_11\"<\/p>\n

Metsovo<\/h2>\n

\"towns_12\"
\nSituated at an altitude of 1,200 meters in the very heart of the majestic mountain range of Pindos in Epirus, Metsovo is undoubtedly one of Greece\u2019s more picturesque towns.
\n\"towns_13\"
\n\"towns_14\"
\nThe city was home to some of the country\u2019s most skilled stonemasons who used the region\u2019s rich natural resources to build gorgeous mansions, monasteries, fountains, and cobbled streets and squares, most of which remain untouched by time. Nearby mountain peaks, slopes and pristine forests offer an arresting sight to visitors, who can enjoy scenic hikes in the surrounding area. <\/p>\n

\"towns_15\"
\nDespite the rapid increase in tourism in recent years, Metsovo still preserves its traditional character, perfectly combining the past with the present by offering a multitude of cultural and sport activities all year round.
\n\"towns_16\"
\nSeaside towns, lakeside towns, mountain towns, which one would fit best to you? North Greece can offer any type of scenery and vacations you may desire. If you find it tempting, do not hesitate to contact our travel experts<\/a> that will guide you on how to explore the beauty of Greece as few people know!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greece\u2019s vast north is unmatched for geographical, cultural and even culinary diversity. Here, great stretches of mountains, lakes, forest and coastline remain to be discovered. With terrain stretching from the azure Ionian Sea across the rugged Epirus mountains to the Thracian plain, northern Greece is the place to be, especially for travelers hungry for variety. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5287,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5849","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-others"],"views":3051,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5849","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5849"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5849\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5849"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5849"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.my-odyssey.com.cn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5849"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}