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Komotini

The village of Maroneia lies to the south of Komotini. It is notable both for its old traditional houses and its enormous archaeological sites, which stretch as far to the sea. The drive from Komotini to Maroneia (30 km.) is very picturesque, passing through the peaceful valley and flowering hills with a view of Mt. Ismaros in the distance.

Ancient Maroneia, the Homeric Ismaros, was a farming and trade center founded at the foot of Mt. Ismaros in the 7th century B.C. by colonists from the island of Chios. It reached its zenith in the 5th century B.C. and, together with Abdera and Aino, was considered the most prosperous city-state in Thrace. Mythology relates that Odysseus got the Cyclops drunk on red wine from Ismaros. The archeological site, covering an area of 2 kilometers, contains remains of the old city walls, the theatre, a sanctuary possibly dedicated to Dionysos and mosaics from a 3rd century B.C. house.

Characteristic of the surrounding area are the small caves backed by precipitous reddish rocks and small brackish lakes where fish are raised and herons take refuge. The village of Aghios Haralambos is the fishing center of the district and there is a GNTO camping site at the village of Fanari.

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