After many, many years, actually since my school days, we decided one day to make a nice trip to Edessa. If you are searching what to do in Edessa, continue reading this post and find everthing you need to know for your next trip in Edessa
The truth is that I didn’t remember much about the city, so this trip would be filled with new experiences, at the same time mixed with my childhood memories.
Edessa, for those who do not know it, is a city in Macedonia, located in the prefecture of Pella and built at an altitude of 320m. It was founded in 813 BC by the first Macedonian king, Heraclides Karanos, and was the first capital of the Macedonian Kingdom. It is known for its famous waterfalls and is a not-to-be-missed destination in Greece. However, in this article we won’t talk about the waterfalls, but we will suggest some other things worth seeing and you can spend a few extra hours on your trip to Edessa.
What thing to do in Edessa: Our top list
1 The waterfalls of Edessa
With a height of 70 meters and a width of 4 meters, the great waterfall in Edessa, Karanos, is one of the largest in the Balkans. The waterfalls are a natural phenomenon, created by an earthquake in the 14th century. A total of 4 rushing rivers flow through Edessa, forming 12 waterfalls, which is why it is known as “the park of waterfalls”. The site is accessible via steps leading to different levels from which you can enjoy the view.
The river Edessaios, from which the waterfalls are formed, has a total length of 29 km.
The waterfalls in Edessa are the reason why it is called “the city of water”, as they are located almost in the center of the city, which is very rare in an urban center. It is truly a mesmerizing sight, and I never tire of watching its rushing waters cascade down to the distant plain of Pella.
2 Trip to Edessa: Waterfall cave
Right next to the big waterfall is the entrance to the cave of Edessa. The cave is very small with a length of just over 20m and the entrance fee is 1€.
Edessa Cave is the only primary cave in Greece. The term “primary cave” refers to caves with an age similar to that of the rocks. If you find yourself in Edessa, you can take some of your time to visit it.
3 Aquarium – Reptile House Edessa.
In Edessa you will have the opportunity to see the largest reptile exhibition in Greece. In the Aquarium – Herpetarium you will meet 59 snakes, from 43 species of snakes, up to anacondas! You will also admire the less frightening 26 turtles of 10 different species and 10 lizards from different parts of our planet. And the collection is constantly growing as many reptiles are donated every year.
So I decided to face one of my biggest fears, snakes, and visit the herbarium in Edessa. For the small entrance fee of 2€ you get to see these rare species up close and the herbarium staff will give you lots of information. Although I was scared out of my wits, I can say that it is a very educational experience, especially for young children.
4 Outdoor Museum of Water.
Or as they call it “the mill area”. Artificial canals, small bridges, paths and restored industrial buildings combine to form the underground Water Museum, where visitors can experience the city’s rich industrial past during the inter-war period thanks to the power of water.
For many decades there were textile factories, flour mills, tanneries, canoe factories and numerous workshops, some of which are open and always have an exhibition.
5 Varosi District.
What to say about the beautiful historical district of Edessa. It is like a trip through time. Varosi was the first Christian quarter as an evolution of the Byzantine settlement that was located there. In 1944, the Nazis burned most of the district to prevent resistance fighters from escaping to the plain.
In recent decades, some of the houses have been reconstructed to remind visitors of their former glory, such as the mansion Valasa, built in 1841. Some of the restored buildings are now used as lodgings.
You can find available rooms in the city of Edessa with one click here
The Varossi district is one of the most beautiful sights of the city and should not be missed if you make an excursion to Edessa. At the end of the walk in the district is the high rock point. From there you can admire the wonderful view of the colorful plain of the Pella prefecture.
6 Old Metropolis of Edessa.
A real revelation for us on our trip to Edessa was the Old Metropolis, located in the Varossi district. The Old Metropolis is one of the few surviving Byzantine monuments in Edessa and was built in the 14th century just before the Turks conquered Edessa. The oldest frescoes date back to 1380 AD. Especially the columns of the temple attract the attention of the visitor and show similarities with those of Ravenna.
The temple was originally dedicated to Christ, Wisdom and the Word of God. It retained this name until the 17th century, when it was renamed the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. This was because an order had been given that any temple named “Agia Sophia” should be converted into a mosque. Therefore, the name was changed in order to preserve the temple.
The interior of the temple is so atmospheric, bathed in daylight coming through the openings of the temple, that the setting reminded us of a period movie.
YouTube Video – Excursion to Edessa: What to see on a visit to the city of waters.
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