Central Macedonia
The periphery of Central Macedonia, situated in the northernmost part of Greece, borders Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia to the north, East Macedonia and Thrace to the east, West Macedonia to the west and Thessaly to the south. Mount Athos geographically belongs to the area but is not an administrative part of the periphery. Central Macedonia is the largest and second most populous administrative division in the country, as well as one of the most significant, culturally and economically. The main river Vardar forms a wide fertile valley that crosses the region from north to south, and is the centre of a rich agricultural district, as well as home to the largest settlements in Central Macedonia. The impressive landscape along the coast and endless sandy beaches, including those on the Halkidiki Peninsula, attract thousands of tourists. The periphery's capital Thessaloniki falls behind Athens in terms of size and population, but is still at the center of the cultural and economical life in Northern Greece. Thessaloniki boasts a long ancient history, many heritage sites from different epochs, various cultural venues and a large number of bars, pubs and restaurants.