Guide of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace

The region of the Municipality of Trigono is the most northern area in Greece. It is situated in the northwestern point of the Prefecture of Evros and has a population of 1,604 inhabitants. The municipality’s seat is at Dikaia and it includes the municipal districts of Arzos, Dikaia, Elaia, Komara, Marazia, Ormenio, Pentalofos, Petrota, Plati, Ptelea, Spilaio and sections of the Kyprinos community. The fertile plain of Evros, which is encompassed by the rivers Ardas and Evros, is called Messopotamia. 17 villages belong to Trigono. One could say that with every tomb that is opened here, a wealth of historical information is discovered certifying that this area has been inhabited since prehistoric ages and that a significant civilisation developed here between the 9th and 8th century BC. This place, with the large rivers and extensive plain, was once a crossroad of people and civilisations. The first traces of life belong to mastodons that lived 3-5 million years ago, whereas evidence of Paleolithic humans was discovered on the southern banks of Ardas. During the Archaic and Classical Ages the area was inhabited by Thracians, in particular the kingdom of the Odryssai. During the Roman and Byzantine periods, the area of Trigono came under the wider area of Adrianople. The conquest of Thrace by the Ottoman Turks brought about large population upheavals, such as the settlement of Muslims from Asia Minor, islamisation and the flight of Christians to mountainous areas. Two centuries later and after a relatively peaceful period in the area, people began to move into the villages of Thrace and the area of Trigono. Populations, mainly from Epirus, began to arrive enriching the local manpower. In May 1920, it was finally incorporated in the Greek State by virtue of the Peace Treaty of Sèvres.
The traditional village architecture in the style of Eastern Thrace and Rodopi is particularly interesting. At Therapio and Milia, two villages that are just a few hundred meters from river Ardas, the traditional character with the large two-storey houses is preserved to a great extent. At Therapio the church of the Dormition of the Theotokos towers above the village. At Petrota village, memories of the great stonemasons survive to date. The most interesting entrance to Trigono is by the bridge over the Ardas dam. To the north of the dam lie the small villages of Milia and Therapio, in an area that has been endowed hot springs since antiquity. A relief of the Thracian hero Ippeas was discovered at the village Komara. Fresh river fish is served at the small restaurants of the village. Every summer the Cultural Society of Pentalofos village organizes a cultural week including a large array of events. Ormenio is the northernmost village of Greece. Hundreds of travellers cross through Ormenio on their way to and from Bulgaria. Dikaia is the municipality’s seat and the last station on the route to Bulgaria. State services and banks give it the ambience of a town. An open-air theater with panoramic views is situated on one of the slopes, where in the summer theatrical performances may be heard and cultural events are held with dances and songs from the old homelands of the locals. Pentalofos is a pretty village with many cultural events. The old village school contains a folklore collection of tools, costumes and everyday effects. The Cultural Youth Society of Pentalofos possesses a library, dance group and blood donor society. The traditional dish of Pentalofos is cooked chicken with pickled cabbage. At carnival the custom of the King is revived at Petrota.
During the summer months, the mood of people visiting Trigono changes. This is not only due to their acquaintance with an area that is not in the least remote or due to their visits to historical monuments (tombs, etc.). It is also due to the good time and conviviality that is afforded to those participating in the festivals held at Trigono.