Natural Environment
The Municipality of Amphipolis is distinguished for its abundant nature.
The massifs of Mounts Kerdyllia and Pangaio and their magnificent forests, the fertile plains and the river mouth, all combine to form a landscape of unique natural beauty.
The settlements found at the foot of Mount Pangaio are especially interesting from an architectural perspective, due to the local architecture that characterizes them.
The Municipality is traversed by the Strymon River, which ends up in Strymonic Bay. Even though many times man has interfered with the river, many forms of life still survive in and around it.
Particularly in the river delta, near Amphipolis, there is a small wetland which hosts a substantial number of aquatic and sub aquatic birds each year.
A notable fact is that this region, with its abundant flora and fauna, is protected by the NATURA network.
The Municipality of Amphipolis also has exceptional beaches. Every summer, tourists flock in great numbers to the beach of Nea Kerdyllia especially, hence contributing to the development of tourism in the Municipality.
Sightseeing
Visitors have the opportunity to go on a tour of Amphipolis and the greater region and to admire the idyllic natural environment.
At the same time, they can visit the great number of significant monasteries, whose history and beauty are proof of the religious tradition in the region.
The Angitis River
Near the cave of Alistrati is the Angitis River and its ravine. The ravine is approximately 15 kilometres long and 80 to 100 metres deep, meandering throughout its length. The river has formed many caves and arches of rare beauty. There are rock paintings inside the caves that date back to the 5th and 6th century AD, the most characteristic example being that of the Chania cave.
The Angitis River forms a virgin wetland with un-explored flora and fauna and is one of the national parks of Greece that are protected.
The Cave of Alistrati
Near Amphipolis is the Cave of Alistrati, characterised by speleologists as one of the most interesting caves in the Balkans and Europe. The cave is rather impressive, with large domes and a variety of exquisite
stalactites and stalagmites.
Lailia ski resort
The Lailia ski resort was formed in 1979 and is at an altitude of 1600 metres. It has a ski slope 1000 metres long, two ski-lifts and one triple-storey store.
Lake Kerkini
The great variety of aquatic and predatory birds found in Lake Kerkini, as well as the abundance of flora and fauna, make it a wetland of international significance and rare beauty. A large area of the lake is
covered by rare water-lilies and visitors are given the opportunity to cross the lake by canoe in order to enjoy the exquisitely beautiful natural environment.
The holy monastery of Timios Prodromos
It was established in 1270 by Ioannikios, a monk living in Serres. Outside the Monastery¢s precinct survives the old cobbled road that led to Serres.
Panagia Eikosifoinissa of Mt. Pagaio
This Monastery has existed for approximately 1550 years. It was built in honour of the Virgin Mary, whose icon is not made by human hands and which, according to the stories passed down over the centuries, was
painted in a miraculous way, without man ever having laid a hand on it.
The monastery of Agia Paraskevi
This holy place emerges from a quaint valley with plentiful water, between two hills. It is not known when this monastery was founded. What is known, however, is that here, relics of great value are kept that
survived from the Black Sea region.
The holy monastery of Agios Dimitrios in Nea Kerdyllia
This monastery also played an important role in the holocaust of Nea Kerdyllia during the occupation.
greek version