Translating as “Burnt Rushes”, Kamena Vourla is a coastal town backed by the Knimis Mountains on the edge of Greece’s Malian Gulf. It lies on the motorway that connects Athens with Thessaloniki and became a popular spa destination in the 1930s after a chemist, Michail Pertesis, discovered a high concentration of radon in its spring waters.
Things to do in Kamena Vourla
Stretching along the waterfront of Kamena Vourla is a shingle beach where you can stroll, swim and fish. Overlooking the beach is the whitewashed Church of Saint Panteleimon, a photogenic house of worship surrounded by an arched colonnade. Adjacent is the Mitsis Galini Wellness Spa, a large resort that boasts 3,000 square metres of thermal pools and offers a variety of therapeutic treatments.
A short drive from Kamena Vourla is the Monastery of Metamorfossis tou Sotiros, which was originally constructed in the 7th century on Mount Knimis. It centres around a Byzantine temple decorated with wall paintings dating back to the 18th century. A highlight of visiting the monastery is the spectacular views it offers across the Malian Gulf.
Also nearby are several monuments to the Battle of Thermopylae, which was fought between the Achaemenid Empire and an alliance of Ancient Greek city-states in the 5th century BC. In addition to a statue of the Sparta king Leonidas I bearing a spear and shield, there is also an engraving on a burial mound that has been attributed to the Greek poet, Simonides.
Getting around Kamena Vourla
Kamena Vourla is 30 minutes’ drive from Lamia and around two hours from Athens and the Piraeus Port. Athens International Airport is also two hours away. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting to Kamena Vourla while the town is compact enough to explore on foot.