2. THE SKIING AND SNOWY FUN

Greece is not normally associated with snow sports. Yet “I’ve been skiing since I was three” is something you often hear from the locals, with some even competing at an international level.

Vermio is actually home to not one but two ski resorts that attract thousands of Greek and foreign skiers every year. The Mountaineering Club of Naoussa has taken part in a total of 12 Winter Olympic Games and 18 World Championships, training over 180 athletes over the years.

Lovers of alpine skiing, athletes from Europe and the Balkans, freestylers, back-country skiers and snowboarders visit the 3-5 Pigadia ski resort which is the closest to the city of Naoussa. Equipped with new snow cannons, it has 10 ski runs and hosts international and Panhellenic endurance ski races, while there are also ideal locations to snowboard off-piste. ‘Snow Buses’ also offer tours around the snowy landscape and forests for up to 10 people at a time.

About 20 km from Naoussa, lies the National Ski Center of Seli – the oldest organized skiing facility in Greece, established in 1934. Even when the snow melts on the 6 slopes in the spring, Seli remains popular among mountaineers, being crossed by the E4 international hiking route.

4. THE EXCEPTIONAL WINES

Home to some of the best wineries in Greece, Vermio is a popular wine-tourists’ destination all year round. According to written records, vineyard cultivation and wine-making in the region date back to the 16th century.

On the southeastern rolling slopes of mount Vermio, grapes of the Xinomavro variety are cultivated that end up in the reds the region and nearby town of Naoussa are now famous for. A unique microclimate and great wine-making expertise help create some of the most refined wines Greece has to offer. Indeed Vermio’s slopes form part of the PDO (Protected Designated Origin) zone of Naoussa, established in 1971.

Many of the owners and winemakers offer tours, providing behind-the-scenes looks at the cellars, walks around the vineyards and wine & local product tastings.

5. THE FOOD

Rabbit-onion stew, bison, deer and boar dishes and of course «batzios» the local salty pan-fried cheese made of sheep’s and/or goat’s milk, are among the delicacies that foodies will enjoy in Vermio.

Residents from Thessaloniki often take the 90-minute drive to the village of Metamorfosi, just for a meal at the stone-built restaurant of Arhontiko Agonari guesthouse. Sit by the fireplace on the sofas decorated with ‘kilimia’ (traditional carpets) or on the balcony with great views of the slopes.

The dishes of the day depend on what ingredients ‘speak’ to Pasa, the owner/cook, when she goes foraging in the forest or shopping in and around Naousa. The traditional bean soup has been simmering for hours, the pan-fried sweet-and-sour wine-glazed pork is a must try, so too is the oregano, tomato and olive oil marinated flank steak.

Next door at the guesthouse «Lydia’s Lithos» , Lydia herself makes exquisite ‘glyka tou koutaliou’ (‘spoon sweets’), forest fruit tarts and all kinds of desserts that you can enjoy while you play boardgames in her cozy parlor.

At Arkochori, the wood stove is lit before dawn at Harama Restaurant to bake bread and local delicacies that you can enjoy with a wide range of aged wines.

Local smoked trout is a must-try, and you can savor some in the Four Seasons Restaurant in Aghios Nikolaos Park. For some excellent fried cod, head to Naoussa to the local ouzeri «Stou Thoma». And while you stroll the city streets drop by one of the most popular joints, ‘Home’ where you can try a great eclectic variety of local dishes, accompanying them with great local wines served by the glass.

6. AGHIOS NIKOLAOS PARK

Have you ever sat inside an ancient and hollow tree? In Aghios Nikolaos, located a few kms outside the town of Naoussa on the slopes of Vermio, you can do just that. Just spot the right one, as you walk among the centuries-old trees. It’s a heavenly place, filled with fragrances, birdsong and criss-crossed by babbling brooks – perfect for families who want to enjoy a picnic in the spring or summer.

Rest on the benches near the duck ponds, while agile squirrels run along the branches overhead. Whichever route you take in the park, you will hear the constant low rumble of the “heroic river” as they call the Arapitsa River.

The name dates to 1822, when Naoussa women jumped in together with their children in a desperate attempt to escape enslavement by the Ottomans. If all you need is a warm place, choose one of the nearby restaurants. But before resting make sure to take a horseback ride around the park, following an experienced guide.