We have never been prevented by the weather conditions for an excursion into nature. The program had been decided since yesterday: visit to the sources of the Aggitis river and the cave.
The day started with light clouds. Taking the old national road Thessaloniki - Kavala, we passed through Asprovalta with the intention of following the old route to Drama making a stop at the monument of Leo of Amphipolis, which overlooks its original position at the top of Kasta hill.
The paint on the old iron bridge has faded with time, but it still stands there strong, joining the shores of the Strymons. Through Amphipolis we came across the national road to Drama, which we decided to leave at the height of Rodolivos and follow the provincial road to Alistrati and Prosotsani, which although narrower and with some turns, offers beautiful images of the countryside and the sown fields from above. (The route Rodolivos – Aggistis Station – Alistrati – Sitagrii – Prosotsani is 39km and takes around 40 minutes. From there the Aggitis Springs are only 9km or 12 minutes away) Heavy clouds covered our way until, now approaching the Aggitis springs , we found ourselves in heavy rain.
Ignoring the heavy rain, we entered the shady path under the dense foliage of plane trees. In the rain the images of rushing river waters, reflections of leaves on wet surfaces and deep shadows create impressionistic images.
At the end of the path awaits us the small beautiful waterfall that flows over the rock opening from which the river flows.
From this low opening and through the rushing water, the Petroheilos couple entered the interior of the cave for the first time in 1952, as the guide informed us. The Hellenic Speleological Society was only founded in 1949 by Ioannis and Anna Petroheilou.
They proceeded from the entrance of the cave – through the waters of Agitis – where the ceiling is very low but only managed to advance 70 meters as a siphon prevented them from continuing.
In 1978, with more modern equipment, a group of French and Greek speleologists tried to explore the cave again. The team discovered a passage which after 500 meters ended again in a siphon. This part of the cave, 500 meters long, is the site that can still be visited today. They decided to open a second short tunnel so they could pass the first siphon.
The waters of Agitis near their exit from the cave pass through a large hall, a sinkhole, which was formed by the fall of part of the cave roof. This large first room, accessible from the opening of the sinkhole, was used in the 19th century for pumping water, as the water was drinkable but also necessary for irrigating the fields. The large 8 meter diameter hydraulic wheel is impressive.
The entrance to the cave is today through a tunnel that leads to the "beach chamber". From there begins a path built as a bridge over the waters of the river, which reaches the second siphon. Visitors return by the same path to approach through a second tunnel the great hall of the wheel. Along the cave we see large rooms but also smaller openings and stalactites with impressive colors and shapes, as the flowing waters of the river do not allow the creation of stalagmites. A large opening houses multitudes of bats, whose droppings are responsible for the black color of the wall. Inside the cave also live fish and mammals such as otters and beavers and many species of microfauna, of which 6 species were discovered here for the first time.
Excavations inside the cave have brought to light stone tools from the Paleolithic period and some findings from the Late Neolithic period, such as stone hearths and utilitarian vessels, as well as fossilized bones of large mammals. These finds are housed in the Museum of Drama.
Photography is prohibited in most of the cave and is only allowed in the wheel room.
The Aggitis River originates from Mount Marmaros, near the village of Aggitis, northwest of Drama. Flowing through the plain, the river passes further south through a gorge near Alistrati, where we also find an impressive cave, and joins its waters with the waters of Strymons.
The area is suitable for a day trip from Thessaloniki or other Macedonian cities with a visit to both caves and a hike in the gorge.
