Magic in the Mist: 48 Hours in Florina

The birthplace of brass bands, a supply of inspiration for acclaimed filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos, a metropolis with a wealthy custom within the visible arts, and a vibrant college city, Florina is nicely well worth the journey – even throughout the chilly winter months.

Begin your exploration with a stroll alongside the tranquil banks of the Sakoulevas River. The riverside street is lined with grand neoclassical buildings, together with the Metropolis of Florina. This space holds a novel half in cinematic historical past: in 1991, it was the location of protests by supporters of then-Bishop Avgoustinos Kantiotis towards the filming of Theo Angelopoulos’ The Suspended Step of the Stork. Angelopoulos, captivated by Florina’s misty, melancholic landscapes, selected the city because the setting for seven of his movies, seamlessly weaving its atmospheric attraction into his narratives.

Observe within the director’s footsteps to his beloved Diethnes (78 Megalou Alexandrou, Tel. (+30) 23850.235.85). Steeped in old-world attraction, this charming cafe has hardly modified through the years. Settle in by the comfy wood-burning range, and savor a cup of espresso, a glass of tsipouro, and hearty meze.

Florina’s pedestrian streets are a meals lover’s paradise. Identified for its pink peppers, the town’s signature dish is kebapia – small, tender kebabs constructed from a mix of three varieties of minced meat, grilled to perfection over charcoal. For a style of this native specialty, head to Koukoutsi (28 Megalou Alexandrou, Tel. (+30) 23850.460.10), Klossa (3 Dimarchou Papathanasiou, Tel. (+30) 23850.238.61), or Aposperitis (6-8 twenty fifth Martiou, Tel. (+30) 23853.007.94).

Within the afternoon, immerse your self in Florina’s thriving arts scene, ranging from the Museum of Up to date Artwork (8 Tagmatarchi Fouledaki, Tel. (+30) 23850.294.44). Established in 1977 by the Florina Artwork Society, this museum is housed in a superbly restored neoclassical constructing and boasts a exceptional assortment of over 700 works by each Greek and worldwide artists, together with masterpieces by Chagall, Moralis, Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, and Chalepas.

The town’s artistic spirit has been additional invigorated by the institution of the Faculty of High-quality Arts in 2006, whose affect is clear all through Florina. For instance, at Megalou Alexandrou Sq., you’ll encounter one of many metropolis’s most distinctive landmarks: “Contralto,” the whimsical statue of a bear taking part in a double bass. Created by native artist Giorgos Bardakas as a part of his thesis challenge on the Division of Visible and Utilized Arts, this placing piece greets guests on the metropolis’s entrance.

As night falls, make your option to Aerino Wine Bar (9 Grevenon, Tel. (+30) 23850.448.97), the place you’ll discover an distinctive number of Greek wines, together with 30 varieties out there by the glass, good for pairing with curated platters of native cheeses, cured meats, and different meze. When you’re fortunate, you would possibly catch a stay efficiency by one of many native ensembles, equivalent to the enduring Banda of Florina, the Valkanis brothers’ brass band, which continues the native musical custom with a contact of Balkan aptitude. Keep watch over their Instagram web page for upcoming performances (valkanis_brass_band_florina).

Florina additionally makes a wonderful base for close by excursions. The Vigla-Pisoderi Ski Heart, positioned simply 19 kilometers away, opens early every winter season, because of its considerable snowfall. The picturesque, protected conventional village of Nymfaio is just 26 kilometers away, whereas the charming city of Amyntaio, recognized for its wines, is simply 31 kilometers from the town. For a barely longer – however at all times rewarding – tour, you may make the journey to the breathtaking Prespa Nationwide Park, the place you may immerse your self in a surprising sanctuary of pure magnificence and tranquility.