By Nicolas Bard

The island of Agios Achilles is located in the NW part of Little Prespa, in a shallow and marshy area of ​​Lake and is connected to the opposite bank with a 650 -meter floating bridge.

The altitude of the area is high and approaches 900 meters. Its name, as well as the settlement, comes from Saint Achilles Cappadocia, Bishop of Larissa during the 4th century. Together with the island of Ioannina it is the second inhabited island in a lake of Greece. The village of Agios Achilles is located in the northern part of the islet and has been designated as a rural mountainous settlement, and there they stay around 20 permanently
residents.

Undoubtedly, the most important attraction of the island is the Basilica of St. Achilles. It is an impressive but ruined Byzantine temple of the 10th century – 11th century.

At the point where it was built, there was a largest Early Christian temple of the 6th century before. The temple was plundered and destroyed by the Alamans around 1045, and both sources and archaeological research show that it was subsequently renovated by the active bishop of the Theophrastus, who organized the bishopric and hierarchical meeting there. In the church’s diaconic, it is believed that the relic of St. Achilles was placed and that the Bulgarian Tsar Samuel was buried on the right aisle, who occupied the area for about fifteen years, until the Byzantines regained it. Basilica is three -aisled, wooden, with narthex and two tall pisses, and is one of the largest in its class. It is built at the base of a small hill and has built -in building material, from ancient city buildings, as has been observed in the other churches of the islet.

The island is of great religious interest, and on its surface you will also see the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, a 11th century ruined church, the monastery of Panagia Porphyras with rare frescoes of the 15th, 16th and 18th century, the church St. Demetrios, dating from the 14th century, but also the church of St. George, a small single -aisled basilica of the 15th century, which rescues all its frescoes. It may, therefore, be small, but they are full of Byzantine treasures and monuments, which reveal the greatness it once met. Today there is a vast quiet over the lake, and all the creature is mirrored in its waters and creating a scene out of painting. In fact, there is no road network or cars on the island and you will feel for a while that you are traveling back in time. Indeed, for many years before the construction of the bridge, the locals moved exclusively by boats, which they today tied to the small, graphic pier.

The wider area of ​​the lake is ideal for hiking and cycling, and if you stand lucky, you may notice a rare species of birds, which is particularly rich. The geographical isolation of the island, combined with the imposing massifs and virgin forests that spread around the lake, made it an ideal refuge for both wildlife and hermites, monks, monks
And ascetics, who chose it for their sacred purpose. This partially explains the existence of the five churches there. Whatever the time you decide to visit the area, the natural landscape and the history of the place will make the most of you. Of course in the autumn, where the whole area is painted in bright, warm colors and the clouds are depicted in the crystal clear waters of the lake, you will literally stay breath away. The only sure
It’s that you will take endless photos for Instagram!

Before leaving there, do not forget to make a boat on the lake and get the famous beans of the area, peppers, pastes and mountain tea.

In the picturesque taverns around the lake you will eat hot bean soup, delicious oven giants, Florin peppers stuffed with myzithra or trahana, and of course fresh fish of the lake, such as a grocery (on the coals or the coal or the frying pan). The rich gastronomy and the flavors of the area will be unforgettable.