Livadeia, the capital of the Boeotia regional district, is a uniquely beautiful place worth paying a visit.

In Krya the watermills, the small waterfalls, the stone bridges and the huge centuries-old plane trees create a landscape of exquisite beauty. And most importantly, tourism has not damaged that beauty of the landscape.

Thus, one can walk with his family through the cobblestones, sit on one of the stone bridges listening to the sound of the water or even wet his feet in the gurgling water down the stairs that can be found in some parts of the route.

The running waters crossing and supplying the city with water and forming waterfalls, streams and canals are the legendary river Herkyna, the second “female” river in the country along with Neda in Messinia.

And why is it legendary? Because according to a legend, it was named after the nymph who is said to have played here with Persephone and their goose which escaped them and hid in a cave behind a rock. When the two nymphs moved the rock, the spring water created the river.

The modern sculpture in its waters represents this exact myth. It was created and donated to the city in 2000 by the resident and sculptor Spyros Gourgiotis.

Krya is more than picturesque, with tall plane trees, stone industrial buildings on the banks of the river and arched bridges built during the Turkish occupation, but which you can still cross safely.

The watermill -which is the most photographed site- operated until the middle of the 20th century and along with two yarn factories, a cotton gin and a few other factories at the exit of the city used the power of the river as a source of energy.

The landscape is so calming, to a point where you do not want to leave. A strong proof that a natural landscape and an organized city can coexist, without the latter altering it.

Source: citypatras