Ano Vrontou is the highest-altitude village in the Serres regional unit. It lies in the Vrontous Mountains at an elevation of 1,060 metres. Its mountain setting and local history offer two concrete starting points for choosing this destination: the mountain village itself and the historical developments that have shaped its story. There are also activities in the surrounding area, set apart geographically from the village.
Mountain Setting and Activities in the Surrounding Area
The Centre for Alternative Tourism is 5 km outside Ano Vrontou and offers areas for trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, climbing and rappelling, Flying Fox, a Tibetan bridge, shooting, archery and paintball. When planning, it helps to distinguish between activities in the terrain and the separate climbing, rope and target-based activities. If you want to make a firm plan to visit the centre, check opening hours and public booking options in advance.
Local History in Two Timelines
According to orally transmitted accounts, residents of the North Aegean islands, especially Chians and Lesbians, settled in the wider area around Ano Vrontou in the late 18th century for an unknown reason. At that time, bell casting became a characteristic craft in Ano Vrontou.
Unlike this orally transmitted account of settlement in the wider area, another settlement is dated to 1924: refugees of Greek descent from the Cappadocian villages of Hamidie and Karatzoren in Kayseri settled in Ano Vrontou after moving through several places in Greece. The two accounts therefore emphasise different things: a broader settlement story and a dated settlement in the village.
Serres: A Distinct Regional Cultural Context
The wider destination of Serres has its own cultural and historical focus. The Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos was built in 1270 and houses a museum of Byzantine art. The Zincirli Mosque is located in the southwestern part of the city of Serres; architecturally, it is one of the late 16th-century Ottoman buildings attributed to the school of Sinan. The King's Tower of the Acropolis, also called the Tower of Orestes, dates from around 1350 and is about 20 metres high.
Churches also mark different periods: Saints Theodoroi is a Byzantine building from the 5th or 6th century AD; Saint George Krioneritis is a Byzantine church from the late 13th century. Together, the periods represented span from early Byzantine buildings to late 16th-century Ottoman buildings.
Serres: Food and Getting There
Bougatsa from Serres has been a hallmark of the city for decades. Buffalo meat and buffalo products such as cold cuts, sausages and kavourmas are important parts of Serres' gastronomic tradition. Getting to Serres is straightforward: the city is accessible by road, and a complete road network connects it with all neighbouring areas. If travelling by plane, reach Serres via Thessaloniki Airport.
Discover more destinations: Serres, Eptamyloi, Sidirokastro, Kerkini, Lygaria, Neo Petritsi, Megalochori, Ano Poroia
Return to the main destination overview: Serres.
