VERIA
In Irinoupolis every year, cultural events in two cycles, the "Kouluma" (Halloween) and the "Irinoupoleia" on May 5th.
Every year, Naoussa lives to the rhythm of Halloween. "The Boules" is a custom that has its roots in the Turkish occupation, but also preserves elements from the cult of Dionysus.
Daily revelry and dancing in the streets with the decorated figures of the dancers wearing masks and fustanelles. Events for the Carnival are held in Makrohori and in the Municipality of Meliki, where the traditional event "Kalogeros" is presented.
On the eve of Christmas, the custom of "Kartsounou" is celebrated. At the beginning of July, the International Festival of Pyrsos and CIOFF takes place in Naoussa with dance groups from all over the world. In the summer there are "Imathiotika".
The "Anastenaria", the dance on burning coals, in Meliki, gathers many visitors and creates the same feeling of awe every year.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

One of the most important archaeological sites in Europe, in the village of Vergina, made the region of Imathia world famous. In 1977-78, Professor Manolis Andronikos pointed out in Vergina (12 km. SE of Veria, the capital of the prefecture) important finds, the wealth of which confirmed the conclusion that Vergina was the Aiges, the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom. The excavations brought to light the Acropolis, well-preserved parts of the wall, foundations of Hellenistic houses, the palace, the theater, the temple and, to the north of the ancient city, the cemetery.
But the most important monuments of Vergina are the cluster of royal tombs, which were discovered inside the current village. The largest belonged to Philip II, the smallest to a young prince, perhaps Alexander, and the third - a box-shaped tomb - to a woman. In the surrounding areas, many tombstones were found with valuable inscriptions, all written in Greek.
In Philip's tomb, a marble sarcophagus was found, inside which was placed the all-gold urn with the bones of the deceased and his golden crown.
Around her were found his weapons, various vessels and utensils and the royal diadem. One of Philip's seven wives was also buried here. And her bones were collected in an all-gold urn. In the urn there was also a gold diadem, one of the most beautiful jewels of the ancient world, and a gold-woven purple cloth decorated with flowers and birds, which was saved and is on display in the Vergina (Royal Tombs) Museum. But something completely unique was also found in the tomb, a painting of a hunt on an Ionic frieze.
It is a masterpiece, the like of which we will find only in the Italian Renaissance. Similar to Philip's tomb is the Prince's tomb. Here, too, there is a painted frieze as well as a bed with gold-ivory decoration, which is certainly one of the most beautiful pieces of art that have come down to us. Finally, in the box-shaped tomb was found the brilliant fresco depicting the abduction of Persephone by Pluto, which, together with the fresco of the hunt, are the only surviving original works of great ancient painters in the world.

Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou