For every step human beings take, ‘place’ is their point of reference…and for every place, the points of reference… are the steps of humanity in its long journey.

Walking along well-worn paths of Northern Greece through the four seasons, there are places where a visit is like a sacred pilgrimage to Nature.

At the foot of the imposing Mount Falakro – in a verdant region – is the city of Drama.

Drama: once famous for tobacco and marble quarries is also a place of cultural endeavours, like the historic Short Film Festival. But nature always steals the scene. There is also Ancient Idonida, with its fertile plain and its abundant waters. Drama greets you from antiquity, from the time when its inhabitants cultivated the vine and worshipped the god Dionysus.

We came face to face with the majesty of nature, and the energy of the activities, creativity, and production driven by people of Drama, we were embraced by the hospitality of Eleni Tzamtzi at the Kouros Hotel.

DIONYSIAN WINES

Nicos Lazaridis’ winery gave us another dimension of the region through the world of wine, showing us the way they fuse all the senses into a totality of pleasure poured into a glass – and expressed through their labels.

Federico Lazaridis introduced us to the dialogue between wine, brush, and chisel they curate in the famous gallery ‘Magic Mountain’, which houses the works of all the artists who have created the labels of the famous wines of the estate, among them Yannis Nikos.

From the wide-ranging conversation we had with Federico Lazaridis, we were transported to the “art of wisdom” of the new generation of wine makers, through scientific oenology as explained by his daughter Federica Lazaridis.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

We headed to the village of Paranesti on the banks of the river Nestos, to meet Kostas Athanasiadis, a firefighter, special rescuer of the EMAK unit, and an outdoor adventure enthusiast. He provided an adrenaline charged trip to the Prefecture of Drama with rafting and the Flying Fox.

Nature’s charms were on show in the fertile plain of Prossotsani under the shadow of the Menikio mountain and we made it to the famous livestock unit ‘Menoikio’ of Vassilis Meleneklis – an organic pasture area of 90 acres where thousands of sheep and goats graze freely. They are valued for the area’s famous dairy and cheese products of unparalleled taste.

We learned about their quality milking process, and found ourselves the next day at the premises of ‘Menoigios’ with the new generation, the son of Vassilis, George Meleneklis who introduced us to their production methods.

DRAMATIC CAVES

A few kilometers away, our love for history led us to the Cave of Angitis Springs (Maaras) where the deputy mayor of Drama, Lead Chanter Grigoris Papaemmanuel and mayor of Prossotsani Theodoros Athanasiadis waited for us to guide us through the largest river-cave in Greece – with a length of about 15 kilometers, of which only 500 meters can be visited. There are archaeological findings and it is ‘decorated’ with huge stalactites. Hollywood has been drawn to its beauty – the site was chosen for Robert De Niro’s scenes in ‘The Tin Soldier’.

DELICIOUS FOOD

For 120 years, taste has been meeting memory through the Sariboya family, which has guarded the recipe for sausages that evoke memories of another era, the SARY sausage company. Paraskevas Sariboya spoke to us emotionally about how the family came to Greece in 1890, having traditional recipes in their luggage for pastrami, soutzoukia, salami, and many other ‘Karamanlidika’ and ‘Politika’ from Constantinople and Cappadocia, recipes used to start their first workshop in 1938.

Today, the fourth generation continues ‘reverently’ the vision of their grandfather, following and adapting his recipes and advice to the requirements of today through their state-of-the-art facilities certified by ISO and HACCP.

CHARMING CHASMS AND CHILLING SKIING

One of the deepest chasms in Macedonia, (-111m) with a large opening and permanent snow at the bottom, is located at 2100 meters, near the chalet of the ski resort. There the team of Kostas Athanasiades welcomes visitors to the prefecture of Drama, offering them an exclusive experience of extreme sports and downhill skiing.

The barren slopes of Falakro – ‘Bald Mountain’ – are filled with entertainment and action. The ski center and chalet offer shelter with a capacity of 45 beds for those who love the magic of nature in all seasons of the year. One of the four friends who have taken over the facility, Stavros Theodoridis, says: “The ski resort, with 21 slopes, a total length of 20 km, with its multiple facilities, is the starting point for easy and short ascents to the highest peaks of the mountain.”

The epilogue of this journey was the special experience at the ‘Ktima Genima Psyche’ of the Manolisakis family, which has been active in viticulture and winemaking since 1989, a key period that coincides with the beginning of the vineyards of the Adrianis area in Drama and the cultivation of the French varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah.

None of us expected that a few meters away from the estate, we would experience the hospitality of Crete with Stavros Manolessakis, at his beautiful farm. A traditional wood house with a fireplace, where his cooking welcomed us into the Lenten season with good company and his award-winning wines named after his daughters… ‘Anastasia’ and ‘Pelagia’.

Follow Clelia Charissis on Instagram @apostoli_mission

Special thanks to:

Grigoris Papaemmanuel, Deputy Regional Governor of Drama; Theodoros Athanasiadis, Mayor of Prossotsani; Federico and Federica Lazaridi of the winery Nico Lazaridi; The Menoikio dairy and Mr. Vassilis Meleneklis; The Manolesakis Winery and Stavros Manolesakis; Paraskevas Sariboya and the sausage producers SARY; Kostas Athanasiades, EMAK Special Rescuer; Dimitrios Katrantzis; Konstantinos Bidakis, photographer of guidebooks of Drama of the ΚΥΚΛΩΨ company; The team “NAVARINO TEAM” of Stavros Thodorides at the Drama Ski Resort.

Hotels: KOUROS HOTEL AND MS. ELENI TZAMTZI,  Angsana Corfu Resort & Spa, HYADES RESORT , TRIKALA KORINTHIAS, P. DEMIS HOSPITALITY.

Restaurants: ΗΔΩΝΑΣ AND MR. PAPADOPOULOS, KARBOUNIARIS AND MR. ANESTI TOPALIDES.

Sponsors: Cryogonia – Sperm Cryopreservation Bank, NEW WAY, RENTPHOTOVIDEO, SEAJETS, AUTO KOSKERIDIS, LENOVO, NAVARINO TEAM

Clelia Charissis is dressed by: SAUCONY GREECE, FILLA GREECE, MAT FASHION, SHOP AND TRADE