Greek island… with only 11 houses

The video about life on the island is impressive. There are only 11 houses on it because residents are hesitant to build more for fear that one already built there might collapse.

Agios Achilleos or Haili is a small island located on Lake Mikri Prespa. Together with the islet of Ioannina (on Lake Pamvotida), they are the only inhabited lake islands in Greece.

The plot of land is connected to the mainland by a 650 meter long floating pedestrian bridge built in 2001. Before this, all transportation was carried out by boat from the small port of the village. In winter, when the water froze, communication with the rest of the world was carried out on foot. The bridge helped a small settlement develop in terms of tourism, as it is now very convenient to access throughout the year. So today it is one of the most tourist places in the Prespa area.

There are few houses in Agios Achilleos, and most of them are dilapidated. According to local legend, if you build a new house, one of the old ones will collapse. Families living in this beautiful place are few in number.

There was a Roman-Byzantine settlement on the island, identified with the ancient city of Liki. There are also many Byzantine churches, the most important of which is the three-aisled Basilica of St. Achilleus, dating from the late 10th century AD. Another attraction of the island is the church built by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, in which the relics of St. Achilles were kept when they were brought here by Bulgarian troops from Larissa. Other churches are the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles (11th century), the Church of St. Demetrius (14th century), the Basilica of St. George (15th century) and the Church of Panagia Porphyra.

Agios Achilleos hosts the famous Prespeia Festival every year, during which concerts and various other cultural events take place.

Among the famous creative personalities, artists and musicians who have visited Agios Achilleos in recent decades are Mikis Theodorakis, Goran Bregovic, Eleni Karaindru, Dionysos Savvopoulos, Alkisti Protopsalti, George Dalaras and others.

From the coastal settlement, a circular walking route begins, leading from one end of the island to the other, with views on each side of the lake. There is a very large cross at the highest point of the island and the view from there is spectacular. The island is ideal for cycling, lake canoeing and hiking.

Agios Achillios is 60 kilometers from Florina and 65 kilometers from Kastoria, and is located at an altitude of 853 meters.

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