The Brilliant Idea of Giorgos Lianis
How did it all begin? In 1990, when things were extremely tense in the Balkans and “cannons were literally sounding” right next door, Giorgos Lianis had the brilliant idea to establish the Prespeia Festival. It was a masterstroke! Instead of war, our region was filled with melodies, giving the first word to “the nightingales and the herons.”
Over the years, the festival was embraced by all local institutions and evolved into a monumental event. Legendary figures of the arts, such as Mikis Theodorakis and Theo Angelopoulos, have graced our lands, alongside top politicians (Andreas Papandreou, Costas Simitis, Kostas Karamanlis, George Papandreou). Everyone united here, putting politics aside, to celebrate culture!
How do we get to the islet?
The festival is set up in front of the impressive, illuminated ruins of the Byzantine Basilica of Agios Achillios. In the past, all these people would cross over exclusively using our traditional wooden boats, the picturesque plaves (yes, the very same ones described by Penelope Delta in her book “Secrets of the Swamp”)!
Today, our lives and visitor access have become much easier thanks to the floating pedestrian bridge. Nevertheless, the old plaves are still here, moored along the banks, to remind us of our history.
Nature’s Very Own Orchestra!
Honestly, Prespa is a true fairytale land. To truly grasp the magical vibe of the festival, one only needs to recall what the legendary Goran Bregović told the French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur. When asked where he had heard the best music of his life, he replied:
“On a little island in the Small Prespa Lake! Just before I played, I heard a rare kind of music… the silence of the lakes, a moon sitting like a crown above an ancient temple, strange frogs chirping, and wonderful cows mooing. That was music! Nature’s Symphony in all its glory!”
If you attend the Prespeia Festival, we look forward to welcoming you to our cafe-restaurant to connect in person over fantastic home-cooked food!
