Vrastama

LocationVrastama

Vrastama are located at the foot of Holomontas and are characterized as a semi-mountainous area. The distance from Poligiros is 11 km. It is a municipal district of Polygyros in the prefecture of Chalkidiki. Today, the population of the Bohemians is eight hundred and fifty (850) permanent residents. Their main occupation is agricultural work, olive and cereal production, as well as the production of firewood. For the production and processing of olives there are large olive mill units. Equally important is their occupation with livestock, beekeeping, as well as loggers and workers. The products produced by this place are olive-oil, grain, honey, and charcoal. Also, a drink (tsipouro) is made in Vrastama, which is called koumaros. Active is a cultural association, as well as a women’s association, named The Generations.

Vrastama or Vrasta is one of the oldest settlements in Chalkidiki. In its place was marked an ancient city, with an unknown name today, and the village itself is referred to as Vastasma in springs of the 9th century. The inhabitants of Vrastama participated in the revolution of 1821, among them Dimitrios Paradisis.

The sights of Vrastama includes the church of the village “Evangelismos tis Theotokou”. The temple was renovated in 1814 as it was burned by the Turks On the hill where there was an ancient temple. An important point of visit is the cave of Saint Efthimios at Mikrokampos. It is set in a beautiful area surrounded by waterfalls and plane trees. There, Saint Efthymios practiced here and now there is his cave built on a rock. His memory is celebrated on October 14th. The visitor can still admire the evergreen trees on the precincts of the Virgin Mary and the Saints Anargyroi (celebrates July 1). Also, there are the churches of Saint Kyriaki (July 7) and feast is also on 15 August (Assumption of the Virgin).

The inhabitants of the Vrasta also preserve the traditional festivals numbered around 13. The largest of St. Anargyroi on 1/7, St. Kiriaki on 7/7, and the “Assumption of the Virgin” on 15/8 when the Cultural Association organizes four-day events under the name “Koumaros Feast”.