Perea has changed a lot since 1923 when the first residents (refugees from Asia Minor and Thrace) settled. It has changed from a small refugee town into a beautiful city with the features of a tourist destination that does not need to envy the other more promoted regions in Greece.
 
At a distance of just 8 km from the “MAKEDONIA” International Airport and 20 km from the centre of the city of Thessaloniki, it is an easily accessible destination for all visitors. Combining  who want to enjoy not only the beachy side of their  beaches with crystal clear blue waters, in combination with citywalks in Thessaloniki ightseeing in Thessalonikifresh fish, seafood and traditional dishes, and ouzo appetizers with the local tsipouro drink and wine or their coffee, literally on the beach with a view of the Thermaikos Gulf and the city of Thessaloniki.
 
 
The traditional stroll along the beach is a unique experience.
With a rich tradition in terms of the sea, the residents in the region have established two sailing clubs, NOPTH and TORONEO, whose members have participated in both Greek and International regattas.The School of Macedonian Tourism Professions has been based in Perea since 1974 and has a significant impact on the development of tourism in the region.

These two particularly significant regions in the marine coastal zone of the Thermaikos Gulf with wetland habitats that have been included in the Natura 2000 Network (EU Directive 92/43) constitute the Epanomi and Angelochori Lagoons. A number of bird species are accommodated in the region, while its seabed is strewn with grasslands of the protected “posidonia oceanica” species, which are also known as the “Fields of Posidonia”.

EPANOMI LAGOON
It is located at Mytika Cape, 5 km south west of Epanomi, and has a total area of 830.38 hectares.
In excess of 186 bird species reproduce, feed and winter at the lagoon.
The total number of bird species and individual birds during the year is very high and extremely rare species of birds appear sometimes. A characteristic example was the appearance of the Aegean Sea gull in June 2009, which is a globally threatened species. 135 bird species respond during migration, 38 bird species nest in the region, while 67 species spend the winter. Amongst these birds, 3 species are globally threatened, 54 are mentioned in the Red Data Book for Threatened Vertebrates in Greece and 67 species are included in Appendix 1 of the Community Directives for birds.

Gerovasileiou Wine Museum www.gerovassiliou.gr


The Gerovasileiou Wine Museum is situated on the modern Gerovasileiou Estate winery, next to the underground area for ageing the wine. Its renovation commenced in May 2007 and was completed in October 2008. The responsibility for the design and completion of the project was entrusted to the Professor of Architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Mr Panos Tzonos, and to the Professor of Museology and Art History, Mrs Matoula Skaltsa.

Visitors can admire a range of 28 rare handmade hand operated grape presses - presses (18th – 20th centuries), which have an international wine and museum peculiarity. The collection of wine bottles (16th – 20th centuries) shows their evolution over time and includes one of the first wine bottles that were produced in 1520. The museum also exhibits amphorae from the Byzantine years, barrel making tools (19th – 20th centuries), winery chemistry equipment (19th – 20th centuries), barrel taps (18th century), secateurs, sprinklers, manual corking machines (19th – 20th centuries) and a variety of other old viticulture, winemaking and bottling machinery and tools.

The most significant section in the museum is the collection of wine bottle openers, which is the only collection in all of Greece and one of the rarest in the entire world –it is ranked in the best 10 worldwide – due to its number as well as the rarity of many bottle openers. There are approximately 3000 bottle openers that date from the 18th century. The Gerovasileiou Wine Museum is open for visits and holds educational programmes for school visits.

Old churches

CHURCH OF AGIOS GEORGIOS (EPANOMI)
The Church of Agios Georgios is one of the oldest churches in the Municipality and is a three aisled early Christian basilica style church. This church has been dedicated to two saints, Agios Georgios and Agios Charalambos. According to testimonies there was a small church in its place, which residents demolished and built the new church in its place in 1724 (according to historical information). The Church was burned and destroyed in 1821 and was reconstructed in 1835 upon the previous church. According to the inscription on its entry window, the bell tower was constructed in 1899.

CHURCH OF PAMMEGISTON TAXIARCHON (N. KERASIA)
The Holy Church of Pammegiston Taxiarchon dominates in the town of Kerasia. It is a timber-roofed post Byzantine Basilica style Church that was consecrated in 1818 and is protected by the Ministry of Culture. According to tradition, the church has been erected at the point where the miraculous icon of the Archangel Michael was found buried. In recent years, when Kerasia was still a community (in the 1990s), the church was restored with the assistance of the archaeological department and with financial support from the residents and local authorities. It now welcomes a multitude of pilgrims on November 8th, its festival day.

CHURCH OF THE REPOSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY (EPANOMI)
This is a three aisled early Christian basilica style church of significant value that is dedicated to the Panagia (Virgin Mary) and Agios Dimitrios, which is further testified by the Holy Altars in the church. It was constructed in 1865. Visitors may admire the exceptional hagiography and Byzantine icons in the church

CHURCH OF KONSTANTINOS AND ELENI (MESIMERI)
The Church that was constructed during the Ottoman occupation dominates in the Mesimeri region. According to testimonies by residents, the church was built by the Turks so that the Greeks working on their estates could worship. The church was initially dedicated to Agios Nikolaos. It was renamed in 1924 by the refugees who settled in the town and gave it its current name.

AI NIKOLAS – FANARI EPANOMI
The chapel of Ai Nikolas was constructed before the middle of the last century on the occasion of the icon of Agios Nikolaos that “surfaced” in the region after a huge sea storm.
On May 17th, its festival day, a celebration is held around the church where visitors are offered local wine, tsipouro and fresh fish.

CHURCH OF PANAGIA FANEROMENI (Ν. MICHANIONA)
This imposing and magnificent church is situated in the central Michaniona square. It has a capacity of 4000 persons and was consecrated in May 1984. The miraculous icon of the same name as the Church, which was brought here by the refugees after the Asia Minor catastrophe is held here. According to tradition, during the Iconoclast Period, a woman that was hiding the icon threw it into the sea so that it wouldn’t be destroyed. The icon surfaced at Peramos where it was found by a monk. On August 23rd, the festival day of Panagia Faneromeni, Michaniona welcomes pilgrims from all over Greece and a major festival is held that lasts for a week.