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Balkans & Black Sea Forum 2017
Stability | Growth | Cooperation
May 25-26, 2017 | Serres, Greece

Secrets of Nigrita

Itinerary

13:30 Departure to Nigrita, a charming town close to Serres, which till the middle of the 20th century stood as an important center of the tobacco industry in northern Greece.
During our walking tour you will see the Folklore Museum, St. George Cathedral and the old Tobacco factories.

Following a transfer to the Mountaineering Club of Nigrita, a light snack shall be offered to the guests at their shelter on the Vertiskos Mountain.

After enjoying the magnificent atmosphere of Sourpa Mountain, you will experience an easy pace trekking (1hrs approx.) towards Nigrita.

18:00 Departure from Nigrita town to Serres.

18:30 Tour ends at the hotels

ortant center of the tobacco industry in northern Greece.
During our walking tour you will see the Folklore Museum, St. George Cathedral and the old Tobacco factories.

Following a transfer to the Mountaineering Club of Nigrita, a light snack shall be offered to the guests at their shelter on the Vertiskos Mountain.

After enjoying the magnificent atmosphere of Sourpa Mountain, you will experience an easy pace trekking (1hrs approx.) towards Nigrita.

18:00 Departure from Nigrita town to Serres.

Exploring Nigrita, famous for its spirulina super food production and hiking at Sourpa Mountain

 

Nigrita secrets

Nigrita, a beautiful farming town, is built on a fertile plain and it is believed that a settlement was created in the mid 16th century by nomads of the surrounding mountainous areas. On the eve of the Greek Revolution against Ottomans the town flourished economically and its inhabitants engaged in the cultivation of cotton, as well as craftsmanship of gold and bronze. In 1912 Nigrita was liberated from the Turks while in 1913 Bulgarians withdrew their army after they torched the city. Today Nigrita is a lively town and its market is around the main square. Its rich cultural heritage is highlighted by architecture in neoclassical houses, tobacco houses, old churches and chapels spread in town.

Nigrita unique products

It is said that Cleopatra took her bath in donkey milk; and as later proved to be famous for its beneficial ingredients, it is not by coincidence that it costs more than French champagne. At Nigrita, in early 2000, the University of Thessaloniki suggested a farmer who owned these sympathetic quadrupeds, to establish a donkeys milking system. Since that time, the farmer developed the biggest donkey farm in Greece, producing only fresh milk which has nothing to envy the known farms of Europe. The donkey milk is the closest to the human breast milk, high in lactose, known for its anti-aging properties and also for its therapeutic effect. Another unique product is Spirulina is a microscopic alga which helical cells that forms spirals high in quality proteins, minerals and fatty substances. Known as superfood Spirulina finds in Serres a very welcoming place to grow thanks to the high temperature of the underground water of the area being rich in carbon dioxide.

Church of St. George

St. George Church, built as a three-aisled basilica, is from a historical and architectural point of view one of the most important monuments in Nigrita and the wider area. The church came to its present form in different phases, starting in the 16th century and is known for its amazing frescoes of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Gerakina Folklore Museum

A famous Greek folk song throughout Greece is about the beautiful bride “Gerakina”, who was born in Nigrita between 1850-1870. The story is about “Death” being jealous of her beauty. Gerakina who went to the well to take water, lost her balance and fell in the well. All men ran for rescuing Gerakina, among them, a brave lad who was in love with her, and without hesitation went down to the well to save her. Unfortunately Gerakina died. The well, is still preserved in front of a traditional building, the Folklore Museum of Gerakina. The exhibits of museum are donations of Nigrita people, materials of the local folk culture showing how women lived during that time.

Mountaineering Club of Nigrita

The Mountaineering Club of Nigrita was founded in 1994 and is member of the Hellenic Federation of Mountaineering-Climbing and the Hellenic Ski Federation. Their shelter is at 14 km. south of Nigrita, up on the Vertiskos Mountain at 600m altitude, and gives access to many beautiful mountain paths. On top of a hill, surrounded by rich vegetation, this marvel shelter can accommodate up to 30 guests and provide all necessary facilities for a safe and comfortable stay.