West Macedonia
West Macedonia is a periphery in the northwestern part of Greece, sharing its borders with the Republic of Macedonia and Albania to the north, while surrounded by Central Macedonia to the east, Thessaly to the south and Epirus to the west. Most of its territory consists of mountainous or hilly areas, which explains the low density of population and lower economic growth in comparison with the rest of the country. Some lakes and dams lend variety to the landscape and present ideal venues for watersports and camping tourism in summer months. West Macedonia is largely rural, strewn with isolated charming villages and seemingly endless vineyards. Traditional Greek hospitality, superb wines and cuisine are impressive characteristics of this region. Despite the lack of large cities, the area is well known for its respected universities. The only larger urban zones are the capital Kozani, Ptolemaida and Florina, which all are marked with ample heritage sites.