SERRES, A MELTING POT OF CULTURES AND RELIGIONS IN NORTHERN GREECE

Welcome to Serres the town in Northern Greece thats seen it all and has
risen like a phoenix from the ashes of every catastrophe its ever faced.
Whats its secret? Youll discover it in the enchanting Lailia Forest, in the
shade from the leafy trees at Agii Anargyri. Youll taste it in its famous
sweets and in the scent of its ouzos. Youll recognise it in its people, who fill
the nights with fun and games, and in its women who are renowned for their
beauty. Youll find that Serres will keep its promise to give you a holiday to
remember.

What to do in Serres
Travel to the valley of Agii Anargyri
This lovely park infuses Serres with colour and fresh air. With
cascades, brooks, spreading plane trees, an artificial lake,
restaurants and cafes, its a perfect holiday destination for walks
and picnics, especially in spring and summer.

Koulas Hill
This pine-covered hill overlooking town is not just an attractive
backdrop, it contains the ruins of a once mighty Byzantine acropolis.
Climb up to admire the view and youll also see the western tower
of the fortress, Orestes tower, which was part of the inner wall. An
inscribed foundation stone dates it to 1350, during the reign of the
Serbian king Stefan Dusan.

The pristine beauty of Lailia

Go just 25km north of Serres and youll find yourself in the Lailia
Forest, 330 hectares of pine and beech forest at an altitude of
1,849m above sea level at its highest peak, which has the unusual
name of Ali Baba. The forest is a genuine paradise, home to 514
types of flora. It has been declared a Natural Monument and a
region of particular Natural Beauty. Enough said. Go to this corner
of Macedonia and see for yourself.
Skiing or aprs-ski?
If you want to ski, the Serres centres the place to go for great
slopes and even greater fun afterwards. In its bars, clubs, cafes,
restaurants, ouzeris and the famous souvlaki stands, youll feel the
pulse and join the locals in having a good time.
In the lap of the speed gods
Step on the gas and head for the Serres racecourse, the best in
Greece and the Balkans. The course meets international standards
and can host Formula 3000 events. International rallies take place
here and, for a small fee, anyone can test their skills in their own
cars or motorbikes.

Bar Hopping in Serres

Serres is serious about partying and youll understand why once you
spend some time with the outgoing locals of this town. Bars, clubs,
cafes, restaurants, ouzeries and the well-known souvlaki joints
strategically situated on downtown street corners This is where
youll feel the pulse of the towns vibrant social life.

Hidden gems of Serres

The sweets of Serres
Dusted with sugar, they look like Turkish delight, but theyre quite
different. Theyre called akanes and what sets them apart is fresh
goat butter and spring water from Lailia. For the real thing, there
are a number of traditional confectionary stores in Serres that will
have you drooling in no time.
The Timios Prodromos monastery
This historic monastery lies 10km northeast of Serres in a ravine on
Mt Menikios. The most noteworthy attraction in the district, it was
built in the 13th century.

Turkish monuments
Serres was a melting pot of cultures and religions. The muezzin no
longer calls the faithful to prayer but you will find three
well-preserved buildings left from the Ottoman occupation, which
only ended in 1913. Two are mosques the Tsitsirli and Ahmet
Pasha and the third is the marvellous six-domed Bezesteni
market, which now houses the Archaeological Museum.