Knowing Kozani

By Nicolas Bard

The city of Kozani is built at an altitude of 720 meters, about 15 kilometers from Lake Polyfytos and between three large mountain volumes: Vermio, Vourinos and the Pieria Mountains. There are more than 43,000 residents there today, and although not a very popular tourist destination, it has many beautiful places to see.

The area has been inhabited continuously since prehistoric times and great findings have been found in various parts of the modern city. And the truth is, both in the Byzantine period and during the Turkish occupation, Kozani was an economic, social and cultural crossroads, creating a rare urban mosaic, with the remnants of these years obvious in every corner of the city.

The walk in Kozani naturally starts from the historic center of the city, where you will see beautiful neoclassical and well -preserved mansions, acne witnesses that the city once experienced. Niki Square is located in the heart of urban fabric and hosts the most iconic buildings in the city, such as the preserved hotel Ermionion (a work by Maximilian Rubens dating back to 1931), the Town Hall and the National Bank of Greece. Just beyond the square is the famous church of Agios Nikolaos, with its impressive bell tower. The temple dates back to 1664 and is a three -aisled basilica with a wood -carved iconostasis, rare frescoes and tiled roofs. The tour continues at the Historical and Folklore Museum of Kozani, housed in a building of traditional Macedonian architecture. Inside, there are many interesting exhibits of historical character and a gallery.

About ten minutes walk from there, you will reach the Coventario Municipal Librarywhich is one of the city’s ornaments. This is Greece’s second largest library, after that of Athens, and has a total of 153,000 volumes, more than 380 manuscripts, 315 codes, many rare editions and one of the 17 surviving prototypes of the Riga Feraios Charter. That is why Kozani entered the National Cultural Network of Cities promoting the book and reading, and was also established as a “City of the Book”. On your ride there you will also see two great mansions, Gregory Vourka and George Lassanis, who stand out for their architecture and have been described as historical monuments, and you can make a stop for rest in one of the three lush parks of the city.

A time when it is worth a visit to Kozani is Halloween, as the events there start at Ciknop Thursday and last for twelve days, to the Great Carnival! These days the city is becoming a great celebration. Every night there is a lamp in a neighborhood of the city, and the locals offer visitors plenty of wine and traditional kijia, and everyone is a large company and dancing around the fire. The Great Carnival is followed by the parade of tanks, which usually satirize either issues that concern the local community, or national and topical issues, using the local dialect and dancing at traditional rhythms. Traditional costumes also have their honor, and give identity and special color to the events.

Kozani, however, is very proud of the yolk! Kozani yolk (or Greek saffron) is popular for its excellent quality, vibrant color and intense taste. It is used not only in cooking, but also in colors or clothing dye, as well as in the synthesis of cosmetics or medicinal products, and comes exclusively from the Kozani area. Its cultivation in the area dates back to the 17th century, as the particular soil conditions prevailing there, combined with specialized knowledge of plant cultivation and harvesting, give a product of excellent quality. Inside the city you will find many stores to get the “gold” of Kozani, which is a product with a protected designation of origin.

Leaving the city, it’s worth making a stop at Artificial Lake Polyfytos, In the Aliakmon River. The lake is crossed by one of the largest and most impressive bridges in our country, the high Serbian bridge, totaling 1,372 meters. Panoramic views of the lake and the iconic bridge can be enjoyed from the picturesque lakeside settlement of Neraida, located about 20 kilometers from Kozani. And the sunset in the area, with the creature painted in bright colors and reflected in the lake waters, is extremely cinematic and magical. This picture is the best souvenir you will carry inside you from Kozani.