West of Perea and along the beach are Neoi Epivates, a village that during the Turkish occupation was a Turkish tsifliki and was called “Baxe Tsifliki”, a name by which it is known to this day. Hence the song of the same name by the well-known Greek composer Vassilis Tsitsanis, who maintained relations with the region.
BRIEF HISTORY
New Passengers are located west of Perea and along the Beach. Until the Liberation of Macedonia in 1912, the area was a fief of Turku Pasha and was called Baxe Ciflik. The new settlement of the Epivatian refugees was created in the area where the pasha’s summer house was located, in the same location where the church of Osia Paraskevi of Epivatini, Patroness of the village, which celebrates on October 14 every year, is built today.
In that location, settled in 1923, after the exchange of populations, 159 refugee families (631 people), all coming from the town of Epivates, which was a suburb of Istanbul and they also gave the name New Epivates, although it never stopped the second name Baxe Tsifliki is also in use, both by the Epivatians and by the old Thessalonians.
As early as 1928, Nei Epivates was a center of attraction for the people of Thessalonica. This was greatly helped by the fact that the refugees made sure to make a wooden port immediately after their settlement, and the regular communication with boats. From N. Epivates, during the interwar period, 5 ships set off every day, carrying a large number of people from Thessaloniki in order to take a walk and bathe.
INTEREST TO THE VISITOR
The village of New Passengers is amphitheatrically built and stretches from the hills to the beach, with lush vegetation and coastal beauty.
The number one choice of visitors is the long sandy beach, along which huge trees spread their shade and coolness on the sandy beach. The coast is consistently awarded a Blue Flag every year, as it meets all the relevant requirements of the scheme. In addition, its very important advantage is that it has infrastructure (parking lot, seatrac machine, WC for the disabled) for access to the coast and the sea for people with disabilities (PWD).
This beach marries the image of the fishing village with the intense, modern summer entertainment that starts in the morning at the beach bars that are spread along its entire length until late at night. In the scattered tavernas with tables next to the sea, the visitor can enjoy fresh fish (from local fishermen), local snacks and fine tsipouro and wine from local producers.
Many cultural events take place during the summer offering a great selection of music and dance performances from clubs in the area.
Hotels of all categories as well as dozens of rooms for rent cover the accommodation of tourists with all comforts.
During the summer, the beach of Nea Epivato is also accessible by the KARAVAKIA boats that run frequent routes from the port of Thessaloniki to the beaches of the area.
